Author 



^^*«>/' 













•* jV <r ^ 






Title 



JES 



Imprint 




1899 



French's International Copyriarhted (in P^ngland, her Colonies, 

and the United States) Edition of the WorkS 

of the Best Authors. 

No. 23 ■ I 



^ 



W 



^ 






Voung 

Sflrs. Winthrop 



^ 3t pla? in jfour acta I 

^ <^ 

W BY , (1^ 



BRONSON HOWARD 



g Copyright, 1899, by Laura A. Palmer ^ 

^ Amateui-a are not allowed to produce this play without % 

^ payment of the authors' royalty. All inquiries concern- ^ 

^ ing same should be addressed to the publishers, ^ 



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VOL. I. 
Ion 

Faiio 

The Lady of Lyon« 

Richelieu 

Tlie Wife 

The Horieyiiioon 

Tbe :ScboJl for Scaudal 

Mouey 

VOT-. 11. 
The Stranger 
(Sraudfalher Whitehead 
Ricliard III 
Love's Sacrifice 
The CJaiiiefter 
A Cure for the Heartach 
The Hunihbaok 
Dou Cffisar de Bazan 

VOL. II L 
The.Poor Gentleman 
Hamlet 
Chtirles II 
Venice Preserved 
Pizarro 

The Love Chas* 
Othello 
Leud nie Five Shillings 

VOL. IV. 
Virginiiis 

King of the CoiomoBs 
London Assurance 
The Rent Day 
Two Oen<len"t-n ofVerona 
The Jealous Wifn 
The Rirals 
Perfection 

VOL. V. [Debts 
A New Way to Pay Old 
Look Before" You Leap 
King John 
NerTous Man 
D.'inion and Pythias 
Clandestine Marriage 
William Tell 
Day after the Wedding 

VOL. VI. 
Speed the I'lough 
Koiiieo and Juliet 
Feud:il Times 
Charles the Twelfth 
Tbe Bride 

The Folliei of a Night 
fron Chest I Fair Lady 
Faint Heart Never Won 

VOL. VII. 
Road to Ruin 
Macbeth 
Temper 
Kvadne 
Bertram 
The Duenna 



VOL. XL 

81 Julius Ca-sar 

82 Vicar of Wakefield 
SS Leap Year 

84 The Catspaw 

85 The Passing Cloud 

86 Drunkard 

87 Rob Ro- 
ss George Barnwell 

VOL. XIL 

89 Ingomar 

90 Sketches in India 
iti Two Friends 
9 Jane Shore 
93 Corsican Brothers 
'."4 Mind your own Business 
'.♦.T Writing on the Wall 
96 Heir at Law 

VOL. XIII. 
9( Soldier's Daughter 
I 9^ Douglas 
I 99 Miuco Spada 

100 Natiite's Nol.Ietnan 

101 Sardanapalus 
10'-' Civilization 

! 103 Tl>e Robbers 
^U4 Katharine and Petruchio 
VOL. XIV, 

106 Game of Love 
lOti Midsummer Night's 

107 Ernestine [Dreain 

108 Rag Picker of Paris 

109 Flying Dutchman 

110 Hypocrite 

111 Therese 

112 La Tour de Nesle 

VOL. XV. 

113 Ireland As It Is 

114 Sea of Ice 

115 Seven Clerks 

116 Game of Life 

117 Forty Thieves 

118 Bryan Boroihme 

119 Romance and Reality 
I'JO Ugolino 

VOL. XVL 
121 The Tempest 
\^-i The Pilot 
li3 Carpenter of Rouen 
1/4 King's Rival 

125 Little Treasure 

126 Dombey and Son 

127 Parents and Guardians 

128 Jewe.«s 

.VOL. XVIL 

129 Camille 
ISO Married Life 
l;-!l Wenloi'k of Wenlock 
i'i-i Rose of Etirickvale 
13.S David Copjierfield 
134 Aline, or the Rose 



[Moscow 



■>. I. . 1 Av 1 XT ,i.- i'35 Pauline [Killarney 

Much Ado AboutNothing i3g j^^^ g^.^^ ■ -i- ■ 

The ( ritic - , 

vnr viir \OL. xvin. 

Ti. A .. 137 Night and Morning 

T itrN^t* i3s>«thiop 

Tweltt1>N.ght r« Three (Guardsmen 

^'■"^"* , - 140 Tom Cringle 

Smip*on 4 Co ' 



VOL. XXL 

161 All's Fair in Lov« 

162 Hofer 
16;i Self 
164 Cinderella 
IGa Phantom 

166 Franklin 

167 The Gunmaker of 

168 The Love of a Prince 
VOL. XXII. 

169 Son of tbe Night 

170 Rorv O'More 

171 Goldeh Eagle 

172 Rienzi 
17.? Brokeu Sword 

174 Rip Van Winkle 

175 Isabel le 

176 Heart of Mid Lothian 
" VOL. XXIII. 

177 Actress of Padua 

178 t" loating Beacon 

179 Bride of Lammermoor 
Is I Cataract of the Gauges 

181 Rohber of the Rhine 

182 School ot Reform 
188 Wandering Boys 
184 Mazeppa 

VOL. XXIV. 
lS5 Young New York 

186 The Victi:iis 

187 Romance after Marriage 

188 Bng.and 

189 Poor of New York 

190 Ambrose Gwinett 

191 Raymond ami Agnes 

192 Gambler's Fate 
VOi- XXV. 

1193 Father and Son 

194 M.issaniello 

195 Sixteen Siring Jack 

196 Youthlul Queen 

197 Skeleton Witness 

198 Innkeeper of Abbeville 

199 Miller and his Men 

200 Aladdin 
VOL. XXVI. 

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202 Undine 

203 Jesse Brown 

204 Asmodeus 

205 Mormons 

206 Bl.inche of Brandywine 

207 Viola 

208 Deseret Deserted 
VOL. XXVII. 

209 Americans in Paris 

210 Vict.irine 

211 Wizard of the Wave 

212 Castle Spectre 

213 Horse-shoe Robinson 
of 21 t Armand, Mr^. Monatt 

21 > Fashion, Mrs. Mowatt 

216 Glanci at New York 
VOL. XXVIIL 

217 Inconstant 

218 Uncle Tom's Cabin 

219 Guide to the Stage 

220 Veteran 



m 



61 Merchant of Venice 

62 

63 

64 



141 llenriette, the Forsaken 



142 Eustache Baudin 



Old HeadsA Young Hearts I, J- y^^^^^ .MaUravers 
Mountaineers [""tf 

Three Weeks aft^r Mar- 

VOL. IX. 
Love 
As You Like It 



The Elder Brother 

Werner 

Giaippus 

Town and Country 

King Li-ar 

Blue Devils 

VOL. X. 
Henry VIII 
Married and Single 
Henrv IV 
Paul 't'ry 
Guy Mannering 
Sweethearts and Wives 
Serious F'am'.ly 
She Stoops to Conquer 



144 Bold Dragoons 
VOL. XIX. 

145 Dred, or the Dismal 
[Sw.imp 

146 Last Days of Pompeii 

147 Esmeralda 

148 Peter WiUins 

149 Ben the Boitswain 
160 Jonathan Bradford 
1.11 Retribution 

152 Mineral! 

VOL. XX. 
1.13 French Spy 

154 V\ ii)t of Wish-ton Wish 

155 Evil Genius 

156 Ben Bolt 

167 Sailor of France 

158 Red Mask 

159 Life of an Actress 
189 Wedding Day 



VOL. XXXI. 

241 Merrv Wives of Windsor 

242 Mary's Birthday 

243 Shandy Maguire 

244 Wild Oats 
24.1 Michael Erie 
•-45 Idiot Witness 
247 W^illow Copse 

245 People's Lawyer 

VOL. xxxir. 

249 The Boy Martyrs 

250 Lucretia Borgia 

251 Surgton of Paris 

252 Patrician's Daughter 

253 Shoemaker of Touf'Use 

254 Momentous Question 

255 Love and Loyaky 

256 Robber's Wffe 

I VOL. XXXIIL 

!2o7 Duinb Girl of Genoa 
12 8 Wreck Ashore 

259 Clari 

260 Rural Felicity 

261 Wallace 
•262 Madelaine 

263 Tbe Fireman 

264 Grist to the Mill 

VOL. XXXIV. 

265 Two Loves and a Life 

266 Annie Blake 

267 Steward 

268 Captain Kvd 

269 Ni(k of the Woods 

270 Marble Heart 
•271 Se<i>nd L<pve 

272 Dream at .Sea 

Vol. XXXV. 

273 Breach of Promise 

274 Review > 

275 Lady of the Lake 

276 Still Water Ruu.s Deep 

277 The .'Scholar 

278 Helping Hands 

279 Faust and Marguerite 

280 Last Man 

VOL. XXXVT. 

281 Belle's Stratagem 

282 Old and Young 
2-S3 Raftaella 

284 Ruth Oaklev 

•285 British Slave 

2*6 A Life's Ransom 

287 Giralda 

•28i^Time Tries All 

VOL. XXXVII. 

289 Ella Rosen l.urg 

•-'Vi\) V\'arlock o^the Glen 

•291 Zelina 

292 Beati ice 

J2'3 Neighbor Jack wood 
l2H4 Wunder 

295 Robert Emmet 

•296 Green Bushes 

VOL. XXXVIIL 

297 Flowers ol the Forest 

298 A liachfclor of Arts 

299 The Midnight Banquet 
iSOo Husband of nn Hour 
301 Love's Labor Lost 



221 Miller of New Jersey 

222 Dark Hour before Dawn i.,., »,, . , „ 

223 Mids.tm'rNight'sDre.ainl:^'^; N"'*:' Q"**" 
[Laura Keene's Editionj;^'^] ^l''n? 

224 Art and Artifice 
VOL. XXIX. 

225 Poor Young Man 

226 Ossawaltomie Brown 
2-27 Pope of Rome 
\fi^ Oliver Twist 
O'J!* Pauvrette 

230 Man in the Iron Mask 

231 Knight of Arva 

232 Moll Pitcher 
VOL. XXX. 

233 Black Eyed Susan 
:'.'A Satan in P.aris 
'.'35 Rosina Meadows [ess 

236 West End, or Irish Heir-j:;i6 t'oriolanus 

237 Six Degrees of Crime |317 The Winter's Tale 
•238 The L.ady and the Devil '318 Eveleen Wilton 
'239 Avenger, or Moor of Sici-I.S 19 Ivanhoe 
•240 Masks and Faces [ly 320 Jonathan in England 

(^French's Standard Drama Continued on jd page of Cover.) 



304 Cradle of Liberty 
VOL. XXXLK. 

305 Tlie Lost Ship 

306 Country Squire 

307 Fraud and its Victims 

308 Putnam 

309 King and Dcsertfr 

310 La Fiammina 

311 A Hard Struggle 

312 Owinnette Vaughan 
VOL. XL. ' . 

313 The Love Knot [Judge 

314 Lavater, or Not a Bad 

315 The Noble Heart 



Xma MRS. WKTHROP 



A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS 

r\/VO COPIES RECEIVED. 

,LJbrary of Congret% 
Offk« of tht 

NOV 1 7 1809 

R«gUt«r of Capyrfghtft 
BY 
BRONSON HOWARD 



Copyright, 1899, By Laura A. Palmer 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

26 WEST 22D STREET 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

89 STRAND 



Young Mrs. Winthrop 



Madison Square Theatre, N. Y., original cast, Oct. 9th, 1882. - 

CAST OF CHARACTERS. ^'^ ^^""o'^ 

Mrs. Ruth Winthrop Mrs. Whiffen. n^ 

Mr. Douglas Winthrop (her son) . Geo. Clarke. 
Constance Winthrop (his wife) . Carrie Turner. 
Buxton Scott (a lawyer) .... Thos. Whiffen. 
Mrs. Dick Chetwyn (a lady of society) 

Agnes Booth. 
Edith (sister of Constance) . . . Maude Stuart. 

Herbert Henry Miller. 

Dr. Mellbanke ....... W. J. Lemoyne. 

John (a footman) Mr. A. T. Smith. 

Time, the present. Play, 2 hours, 7 minutes. 



looth Performance, January 12, 1883. 
150th " March 5, 1883. 

Last " April 7, 1883. 



We fell out, my wife and I, 

O we tell out — I know not why — 

And kiss'd again with tears. 
For when we came where lies the child 

We lost in other years 
There above the little grave, 
O there above the liitle grave, 

We kiss'd again with tears. 



Tennyson. 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 



ACT FIRST. 



Scene. — Interior of a private residence of a man of 
wealth in New York. Door R. i E, ; also R. u. E. A 
matitel and fire R., near front. An easel^ with por- 
trait of a beautiful little girl of four years, up C 
Small sl^nd or table down L. c. A number of pres- 
ents for a child's birthday, ott chairs and other pieces 
of furtiiture, c. and L. C. So7ne of these presents must 
be such as are referred to in the dialogue. Evening. 
Lights for ordi)iary fa7uily life. Discovered, Mrs. 
Ruth Winthrop, sitting down, l. She has a doll, 
partly dressed in her lap, and is working. She is 
singing a lullaby, as she works, when the curtaifi 
rises. 

Mrs. Ruth, (l.) There, Miss Dolly ! {tying ribbon on 
the doll and holding it up) you will have a beautiful 
little mother to-morrow, and I shall be your great-grand- 
mother. Your name is to be " Ruth " — after me — how 
do you like it ? Your little mother has a very large fam- 
ily already, but I am sure she will love you more than 
any of the rest, {crosses to R. by fire, kisses the doll) 
Lie here, my pet. {holding the doll to her breust) You 
must go to sleep at once, for mother Rosie will be up very 
early in the morning, {enter Douglas up L.) H-s-h I 
{sings as at rise of curtain, patting the doll) 

Doug, {at the back of her chair, leaiiittg over her) 
Playing with a doll, mother ? 

Mrs. Ruth. Douglas ! {looking tip and laughing 
quietly) Yes. I had forgotten my gray hairs. I was a 
child again, like Rosie. We old folks grow young again 
in our grandchildren. 

3 



4 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Doug. You'v^e never grown old, mother. You've al- 
ways been living the same sweet loving life. 

Mrs. Ruth, (with a quiet laugh) Leave any woman 
alone with a doll five minutes, and she will be holding it 
to her heart without knowing it. 

Doug, {with a sigh, up c.) Ah ! mother, I'm afraid 
some women outgrow it. Where is Constance ? 

Mrs. Ruth. In her room. 

Doug. Is she, too, at work for Rosie's birthday ? 

Mrs. Ruth. Well — no — not just now. She is dressing 
for the reception at Mrs. Warrington's. 

Doug. Ah ! I did not know she was going. 

Mrs. Ruth. You have forgotten it ? You have barely 
time to get ready. 

Doug. Herbert will look after Constance. I have an- 
other engagement ; I'm going to supper at the club. I 
must dress at once. Good-night, mother — if I do not see 
you again. 

Mrs. Ruth. Good-night, my son. {rising, he kisses 
her and moves to the door up R.) 

Doug, {stopping. Aside) I asked Constance not to 
go to-night, {exit up R.) 

Mrs. Ruth, {alone. Looking after Douglas and 
shaking her head) Douglas and Constance see less and 
less of each other every day. I am very anxious for them. 
'• Business " and " the club," and the " duties of society," 
are changing them into mere acquaintances. Every time 
1 have visited them, for the last two years, I have found 
them more indifferent, colder to each other. Love, even 
like theirs, cannot live. It is terrible — terrible ! But I 
— I can only look on and be silent, {sits L. C.) 

Enter Herbert, up r. 

Herbert, (c.) Aunt Ruth ! 

Mrs. Ruth, {seated, l. c.) Herbert ! What's the 
matter ? 

Her. I've got to go to the ball to-night with Constance. 
Uncle Douglas isn't going. He says he has an engage- 
ment at the club. He always has an engagement at the 
club — or somewhere — and he always leaves me to go out 
with Constance. This is the fourth time in one week. I 
hate balls, {crossing R. C. and sitting on couch) 

Mrs. Ruth. You hate balls ! You were very fond of 
them last winter. You went nearly every evening, 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. $ 

Her. It was different then. Where is Edith ? 

Mrs. Ruth. Edith ? {looking up significantly — then 
after a pause) She's with Rosie. 

Her. {after a pause) Aunt Ruth, how much income 
ought a man to have before he can get married ; not 
enough to make a show on, but for him and his wife to live 
happily together ? 

Mrs. Ruth. That depends, my dear boy, on how 
much they love each other. Two people who love each 
other very much can be exceedingly happy on a very 
moderate income. 

Her. Well — I'm sure I love her enough to be happy 
on nothing at all. 

Mrs. Ruth. Her ? 

Her. Oh ! Aunt Ruth {crossing to her) I can't talk 
to any one else about it ; but — {taking her hand j she 
looking up in his face smiling) everybody can talk to 
you. I — I do love Edith. 

Mrs. Ruth. My dear boy, I know it. 

Her. My salary is only twelve hundred dollars a year ; 
but Uncle Douglas told me to-day he will raise it to fifteen 
hundred after the first of March. That's because I have 
been working so hard — ever since I first began to — to feel 
that Edith might share it with me, I've saved five hun- 
dred dollars since then. I never saved a cent before. I 
have been wearing my old clothes, and I have my gloves 
cleaned — I don't care whether they smell of turpentine or 
not, when I go to balls, now, with Constance — and I've 
given up cigars. I do love Edith. 

Mrs. Ruth. You have chosen the very best way to 
make love to her ; working hard and saving your money 
for her sake. But I will speak to you as if I were her 
mother, Herbert ; for her own mother and her father lie 
side by side in the churchyard at Concord. Have you 
really thought what it means to marry a blind girl, like 
Edith. 

Her. {with enthusiasm increasing as he proceeds) 
It means, Aunt Ruth, that I shall always have to take 
care of her, as if she were a little child ; it means that I 
shall be her whole world ; I shall be her protector ; she 
will depend upon me for everything ; I shall have to work 
for her, and oh ! how hard I shall work, when she is at 
our home thinking of me. I love her all the more for 
being blind. 



6 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Mrs. Ruth. You have thought about it, my boy. If 
Edith loves you, even her blindness need not keep you 
apart. 

Her. If — she loves me. — {goes L. Sighs) I — I can 
never tell whether she does or not. She doesn't seem to 
know the difference between loving me and loving any of 
you. I might as well try to make love to little Rosie 
as to Edith. 

Mrs. Ruth. She knows as little about it as Rosie. 

Her. Yes. {with a s?nile) That's because she's 
blind. I love her blindness. 

Mrs. Ruth. No one has ever spoken to her of love or 
marriage. She lives in a little world of her own. You 
must wait for her woman's nature to assert itself in her 
heart. 

Her. I thought, perhaps, you might help me a little. 

Mrs. Ruth. Help you ? 

Her. If you would talk to her about it, just to let her 
know that when /tell her — I love her — it isn't quite the 
same thing — as — as any of you loving her, you know. 

Mrs. Ruth. It is awkward for a young lover, isn't it, 
Herbert ? Perhaps I can do something for you. But you 
are only twenty-two, and Edith is only seventeen. You 
can both wait. 

Enter Constance up r. She is in full eve7iing dress, 
cloak over arjn^fan, etc. Crosses c. Lays cloak on 
chair by door C. 

Cons, {as she enters') Are you ready, Herbert ? Not 
dressed yet ? 

Her. Eh ? — Oh ? {suddejtly boltijig across stage) 
It won't take me ten minutes, {aside) I hate these balls. 
{exit up R.) 

Cons. The boy is always late now. {taking up doll. 
Table L.) You have finished Rosie's doll. What a sweet 
little lady she is. {laughs lightly — theti with a sigh) I 
could not finish the doll I was dressing for Rosie. I have 
had no time to do anything for my child's birthday. 
{crossing to R., carrying doll) I was obliged to send 
down town at the last moment, this afternoon — and — 
and — buy a present for her. {sits R. c.) 

Mrs. Ruth, {crossing r. c.) And here it is. Rosie 
will be delighted with it. 

Cons, {shaking her head sadly) Rosie will love this 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 7 

doll better than that. Children seem to feel the difference 
between what is made for them with loving hands, and 
what is only bought with money. Rosie can look so far 
into one's heart with those great blue eyes of hers. I 
sometimes tremble when my child and I are together. 

Mrs. Ruth, {tenderly) When Rosie looks into your 
heart, Constance, I am sure she finds a great and true 
love there for her. 

Cons, {rises) It is there — yes— it is there ; but so 
many other things are there, too — I — I — sometimes fear 
the child cannot always find it. {crossing, putting doll 
on table L.) 

Mrs. Ruth, (c.) We shall have a merry day to-mor- 
row, Constance. Rosie will be awake long before break- 
fast. Edith and I have promised to be up as soon as she 
is, and bring her down to see the presents ; and when you 

and Douglas come down (Constance suddenly strikes 

bell on table L. c.) 

Cons. I shall be up as early as you, mother. 

Mrs. Ruth. Rosie will wake before six. 

Enter John up r. u. e. 

Cons, {to John) Have me called at five o'clock to- 
morrow, John. 

John. Yes, madam, {exit up L.) 

Mrs. Ruth. You will not be in bed before three. 

Cons. If I can spare time for a fashionable ball to- 
night I need not rob my child of it on her birthday. I, 
too, shall be with Rosie all day, to-morrow. 

Mrs. Ruth. Oh ! We shall have a happy day, all of 
us. But I fear Edith may have some difficulty in getting 
Rosie to sleep, the child has so many plans in her head 
for to-morrow. I will go to them. I hope you will have 
a pleasant time this evening, Constance. Good-night. 
{crossing R.) 

Cons, {kissing her) Good-night, mother, dear, {exit 
Mrs. Ruth, r. i e.) Shall I go to Mrs. Warrington's 
to-night t Douglas was very much in earnest when he 
asked me not to go. But he is going to his club. He is 
never at home. I must go. If I stay at home, I cannot 
help thinking. Oh ! if I had died before his neglect began ! 
I — {slowly, as if a tnore painful thought had come into 
her mind) I sometimes feel that — Douglas and I — {sees 
the child's picture, goes up c.) No ! Rosie ! She 



8 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

belongs to us both ! She will hold us together, {stands 
a mo7nent in thought, then smiling) How prettily she 
threw her arms about my neck and kissed me good-night 
just now. Shall I go to Mrs. Warrington's ? 

Enter JOUN up l. with a letter. 

John. A letter for Mr. Winthrop — by messenger. No 
answer, madam. 

Cons. I will give it to him. {taking letter. Exit 
John) Shall I go to-night ? (looking at letter in her 
hand. Raises it to her face as if attracted by the odor) 
Violet ! It is not a business letter ! A lady's handwrit- 
ing ! {she turns the letter) A dove and a serpent as a 
crest — H. D. — from Mrs. Hepworth Dunbar, {leaves 
note on table R. C. and crosses to L.) 

Enter Douglas, now in dress suit, up R. 

Doug. Constance ! {stopping c.) 

Cons. Douglas ! 

Doug. You are in full dress, I see. 

Cons. Madam de Battiste's latest inspiration. Do you 
like it ? 

Doug. It is a very becoming costume, my dear. 

Cons. You are in evening dress. You are going to 
accompany me .'* 

Doug. I am engaged for a supper at the club with 
Dick Chetwyn. 

Cons. John just brought in a note for you — it is on 
the table. 

Doug. Ah ! [turning to table. Constance watches 
him as he opens and reads letter) 

Cons, {turning away with her back toward him) 
Anything important, Douglas ? (L. of table L. c.) 

Doug, {after lookitig across at her quietly, then 
placing letter in his pocket) Merely a business matter. 
{turning to presents C. and L. C.) Rosie will be quite 
overwhelmed with her birthday presents to-morrow. 

Cons, {aside) Business! {at mantel "L. i T^.) 

Doug. I ordered a httle walnut bedstead. Ah ! here it 
is. A dressing-table and mirror, with cut-glass perfumery 
bottles, and a box of cosmetics, and a tiny jewelry casket. 
{reads card) " Mrs. Richard Chetwyn." A very charac- 
teristic present. (R. C.) Here is a magnificent doll, in 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 9 

full ball costume, with real lace and a long train, and 
a coiffure. Another of our ultra-fashionable friends 
sent that, I suppose. It does seem a pity to put such 
ideas into the head of an innocent child, {leans over 
and reads card) " From Rosie's mamma." {he glances 
at Constance) Forgive me, Constance, I was speaking 
thoughtlessly. Any expression of a mother's love is 
sacred to me. Constance — I — I — am very sorry to see 
you in that costume to-night, {back of table L. c.) 

Cons. You did not wish me to go to Mrs. Warrington's ? 

Doug, {coming l. c. down) Mrs. Warrington's house 
is a centre of a certain kind of fashionable society in New 
York. The men are rich and fast, and the wives vie with 
the men in the display of their riches. Constance, you 
have never cared for this extremely " fashionable " circle 
until within a year or two. 

Cons. I had no reason to seek it. 

Doug. Reason ? 

Cons. Some women find, in the gayeties of this so- 
ciety, something to compensate them for what they do 
not find at home. 

Doug, {quickly) What do you mean, Constance ? 

Enter John with a card. 

John. Madam ! (Constance takes card. Exit John. 
Douglas goes r. c.) 

Cons, {reading card) " Mrs, Richard Chetwyn " — 
(turning card over) " Dick is going somewhere to- 
night, so I'll come around and go to Mrs. Warrington's 
with you." {front of table.) 

Doug. Constance, it is my earnest wish that you 
should not go to the ball to-night, {pause) I — I am 
sorry that I am compelled to speak so strongly, but I — I 
insist. 

Cons. Am I to understand that you command me not 
to go ? 

Doug. I did not use that word, Constance. I will 
never use it. I have too much respect for you to do that. 

Cons, {aside) Respect ! {she drops into a chair R. 
of table L. c, her face in her hands, on the back of the 
chair. He crosses to her, looking dow7t at her tenderly) 

Doug. Constance — my wife ! When we were mar- 
ried, six years ago, in the old church at Concord, as we 
knelt to receive the blessing of the pastor — your own dear 



lo YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP, 

father — a ray of bright sunshine coming through the 
window fell upon our heads. For many a month after 
that sunlight seemed to rest upon us, and when Rosie 
came, the pastor's blessing seemed to be fulfilled. Con- 
stance, I — I have tried to be a kind husband to you. 

Cons. A — kind — husband — yes. 

Doug. And you have been a true, sincere, and de- 
voted wife to me ; yet, for the last two years or more, we 
have been drifting apart further and further. You speak 
of compensation in that fashionable world for something 
that you do not find at home. Are you likely to find any- 
thing there to compensate you for the happiness which 
you once found here ? Does Mrs, Warrington, or Mrs. 
Maxwell, or Mrs. Dunbar fulfil your idea of a truly happy 
woman ? No, Constance. 

Cons. Mrs. Dunbar is a leader of the circle. 

Doug. Yes. I believe she is the worst of the set. I 
am glad to know that you have no personal acquaintance 
with her. A woman who respects herself ought to avoid 
such a person, {crosses R.) 

Cons. That is your opinion of Mrs. Hepworth Dun- 
bar ? 

Doug. It is. And I trust that my wife will never be 
seen in her company, [looks at his watch) But 1 am 
late, (goes to door up L. — pauses, turns, goes back to 
Constance) Constance — I — was wrong to use the word 
" insist," a moment ago. I feel sure that you will stay at 
home to-night, not because I " insist " but because it is 
my earnest — wish. Good-night. 

Cons. Good-night. (Douglas is moving up l. Con- 
stance rises on hearing Scott's voice) 

Enter BuxTON Scott up l., holditig a huge package 

before him. 

Scott, {as he enters) Ah ! How is the happy 
mother — and the father — to-night ? 

Cons. a7td Doug. (l. r.) Mr. Scott ! {going to hijn) 

Scott. Constance ! {kissing her at 07ie side of pack- 
age) 

Doug, {looking out at other side of package) I 
haven't a kiss for you. 

Cons. Another present for Rosie ! 

Doug. From her godfather. 

Cons. Let me help you. 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. ii 

Scott. Thank you. {putting it ott chair L. C. CON- 
STANCE begins to unwrap it) I brought that in my arms 
all the way. I was the proudest old bachelor in New 
York. I felt like a grandfather. 

Doug. Constance and I almost feel that you are 
Rosie's grandfather. 

Cons. Indeed we do. 

ScOTT. So do I. In fact I did have almost as much 
to do as either of her grandfathers with bringing her into 
the world. 1 helped along your courtship as much as a 
blundering old bachelor could. I patched up your lovers' 
quarrels and made peace between you — I think I may 
claim to be Rosie's grandfather. 

Cons. A beautiful new baby house, with furniture and 
carpets and mirrors, complete. 

Scott. Yes, the house is complete — there is everything 
there but the mortgage. 

Cons. I must kiss you again — for Rosie. {kissing 
him) 

Scott. I shall drop in to-morrow if lean. You must 
let me have Douglas now for business. I'm his lawyer, 
you know, and we lawyers have to work night and day, 
{turns to Douglas R. C. Apart) I must speak with you 
at once. 

Doug, {apart) Come into the library, {exeicnt up'R.) 

Cons, {pleasantly) I'll not go to Mrs. Warrington's, 
ril go to bed early and be up fresh and bright with 
mother and Edith. Rosie and I will — {stops suddenly, 
her expression changing suddenly from a smile to a look 
of pain) What was that letter from Mrs. Dunbar to my 
husband ? Not a word to me when he read it ! (pause 
C.) No, no, no ! I will not think of that. Douglas has 
become cold — but — I have never dreamed of anything 
like that. No ! — I — oh ! if that, too, should come ! — if 
that, too, should come ! — I could not bear it. {dropping 
into a chair R. c, her head falling on her arjns) 

John enters, l. u. e. Enter Mrs. Dick Chetwyn in 
full evenitig dress, up L. 

Mrs. Dick. Constance, my dear ! 

Cons, {suddenly arousing herself) Ah ! Barbara ! 

Mrs. Dick, {in a tone of great anxiety) Something 
wrong with your new costume, my darling ? Doesn't it 
fit? 



12 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Cons, {brushing tears from her eyes') It is not that. 
{crossing to L.) 

Mrs. Dick. Oh ! I thought it was something serious. 
Your new dress is lovely, and your hair is perfection. Will 
your husband be ready soon ? The men are always late. 

Cons. He is not going this evenmg, 

Mrs. Dick. (r. c.) O — h ! that's what you're crying 
about. It's a long time since I cried because my husband 
wouldn't go with me anywhere. Dick says I've changed. 
He says I'm more likely to cry when he does go with me 
now. Dick goes one way and 1 go the other, so we're 
both of us perfectly happy. Buxton Scott called to see 
Dick one day. I happened to meet him in the hall. 
" Ah ! " said he, '♦ you're at home ; of course your hus- 
band isn't. Good-afternoon." Ha, ha, ha ! We two 
widows must go to the ball by ourselves, I suppose. 

Cons. Herbert is going. But didn't you know t Mr. 
Wintrop is engaged for a supper at the club with your 
husband ? (Constance l., arranging toys at table) 

Mrs. Dick. Oh ! is he ? (^crosses r.) Ha, ha, ha ! I 
thought Dick was lying about it. He told me he was 
going to take supper with Mr. Winthrop at the club. 
After his telling me that, it was the last thing I dreamed 
of his doing. Poor Dick ! it's a shame not to believe him 
when he does tell the truth. But I dare say they are both 
lying, {sitting R. c.) 

Cons. Oh, Barbara ! how can you trifle about such 
serious things ? 

Mrs. Dick. Well, you see, my dear, I know all about 
these men, and so'll you by the time you have had two 
husbands as I have. My first husband was a physician ; 
my second is a member of the bar. A doctor and alawyer 
can teach you about all one woman needs to know on the 
subject of husbands. Dick makes up whatever Bob omitted 
in my education, and when I forget anything Bob taught 
me Dick reminds me of it. Between Bob and Dick 
together, I'm a graduate M. A. Mistress of Arts. 

Cons. Ah — I remember — your first husband's name 
was Robert, 

Mrs. Dick. M-m. Everybody called me Mrs. Bob 
then, just as they call me Mrs. Dick now. I never could 
rise to the dignity of my husband's full name. I dare 
say next time I shall be Mrs. Jack or Mrs. Tom. Yes, 
my dear, after you've married the second time, you'll 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 13 

know a great deal too much about these men to worry 
yourself about 'em. If your dress fits, and you haven't 
got a headache, no httle matrimonial obscurities will ever 
affect your spirits. Keep your eyes open, my dear, and 
smile. I mean, keep one eye open and the other shut. 
When your husband gets round on the blind side of you, 
open that eye quietly, when he isn't looking. It's great 
fun ! Ha, ha, ha ! Bob told me one evening — it was the 
night of an Arion ball — no, that wasn't Bob — it was Dick. 
Dick said to me that evening — yes, it was Bob, too. It 
was four years ago — no — I was a widow then — one, two 
— {coinitUig on her fingers) three, four — that was six 
years ago. " Barbara, my dear," said Dick — 1 mean, 
said Bob — " I have an important engagement with a 
client — no — with a patient — to-night." "What sort of a 
law-suit is it ?" said I — I would say — "What disease is 
she suffering from ? " said I. Then he quoted from some 
musty old law-books — no, he ran over a lot of scientific 
medical terms, *• Bob," said I, shaking my finger, " it 
won't do, you can't deceive me, Dick — Bob — well, it was 
one of 'em. A woman that's been the wife of a doctor 
and a lawyer both gets awfully mixed up about profes- 
sional engagements outside of business hours. (Con- 
stance has been on ottoman before doll-house arranging 
fiirtiiture, etc.) 

Cons, {rises) Barbara — I — I don't think I'll go to the 
ball to-night. 

Mrs. Dick. Not go ? 

Cons. You know, to-morrow is Rosie's birthday. I 
wish to be as fresh and as bright as possible to enjoy the 
whole day with her. Herbert can go to Mrs. Warring- 
ton's with you. 

Mrs. Dick. Well, I've never had any children, but 

Cons. If you had you would feel as I do. Ah, Bar- 
bara, Providence has denied to you the greatest blessing 
it ever brings to a woman. Heaven has been very kind 
to me. {turfiing to house aftd arranging it) 1 shall 
not go. 

Mrs. Dick. You'll break Madam de Battiste's heart 
if you don't appear in that costume to-night. Mrs. 
Dunbar 

Cons, {looking tip suddenly) Mrs. Dunbar ! {rising 
Mrs. Dick stops and looks at her inquiringly. CON- 
STANCE proceeds quietly) What of her ? 



14 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Mrs. Dick. She has a new costume just arrived, direct 
from Paris. She is supposed to be the finest dressed 
woman in America. But Madam de Battiste told me that 
when you appeared in the same drawing-room with her 
to-night, Mrs. Dunbar and the Parisian dressmal<ers 
would lose their reputation. I told Madam de Battiste 
she might rob the Parisian dressmakers of their reputa- 
tion, but Mrs. Hepworth Dunbar will never lose hers — 
again. By the by, my dear — ha, ha, ha, ha ! — speaking of 
Mrs. Dunbar — I'm jealous of you. 

Cons. Jealous ? — of me ? 

Mrs. Dick. M-m. Mrs. Dunbar thinks a great deal 
more of your husband than she does of mine. (Con- 
stance starts to her feet and moves down L. C. front) 
Everybody is talking about it. Dick was her favorite till 
a few weeks ago, you know ; but his nose was put out of 
joint the moment Douglas appeared as a rival. Ha, ha, 
ha ! We're all laughing at Dick. Ha, ha, ha ! I had 
such a joke on him last evening. He told me he was 
going to drop in and see Mrs. Dunbar. I remarked that I 
expected a gentleman to call on me, and he departed with 
my blessing. Ha, ha, ha, ha ! He was back in twenty min- 
utes. " Wasn't she in ? " said I. " Yes," said he, "she 
was, but just as I reached the foot of the steps Douglas 
Winthrop was entering the door. I thought I might be 
intruding. That's the second time this week. When I 
called on Tuesday, I found Winthrop in the parlor." Ha, 
ha, ha, ha ! Your husband has cut mine out. You ought 
to be proud of him, my dear. The gentleman that was 
to call upon me — didn't. Dick and I spent the whole 
evening together. It wasn't so very bad either. It 
seemed novel to us, you know — we found each other quite 
interesting. 

Cons, {with suppressed feeling, L.) You are quite 
sure that Mrs. Dunbar will be at Mrs. Warrington's this 
evening ? 

Mrs. Dick. Sure of it. She ordered her costume by 
cable especially for this occasion. 

Cons, {aside) If she and I should come face to face 
to-night we would understand each other, without a 
word, {aloud, suddenly) I will go to Mrs. Warrington's. 
{enter Herbert up R.) Oh, Herbert, you are ready. 
Mrs. Chetwyn is going with us. {gathering cloak, fan, 
etc., with nervous movement and speaking rapidly) We 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 15 

will send back your carriage. Barbara. Mine has been 
waiting this half hour. Come, {exit quickly and ner- 
ZTdyup L. MRS. DICK /. following /..r Herbert 
is pulling at his back collar button working at his 
Jist bands, etc., and looking generally l^^<^on^l''^^^^^ 
Mrs. Dick, {stopping and looking back at Herbert) 

Herbert ! 

Her. Mrs. Dick ? {down R. c.) „ . . , 

MRS Dick. I know your secret. You re in love. 
Come here, {beckoning to him. He approaches her 
She sniffs the air) Benzine. Give me your hand {he 
looks at her in some surprise; then holds out his hand. 
She puts it daintily to her nose) Economy-You re very 
much in love-mended all over-one place with black 

^ Her. I did that myself just now— Aunt Ruth and 
Edith were both busy. 

Mrs. Dick. Is Edith busy now ? 

Her. No. . 

Mrs. Dick. You needn't go with us. 

Her. {eagerly) I needn't ? 

Mrs Dick. You follow us. I'll leave my carriage at 
the door for you. We'll give you ten minutes to make 
love We'll wait for you in the cloak-room. By-bye. 
isoing— stops) Ha. ha. ha. ha t I saw it coming on you 
three months ago. I'm familiar with the symptoms. I ve 
seen lots of men in love. I married two of them, {exit 

wb L \ 

Her Mrs Dick is a nice woman, {looks out R.) 
Edith is coming. She has just left little Rosie. I wish 
she was half as fond of me as she is of Rosie. 
Enter Edith, r. i. e. Herbert stands down l. beyond 

table looks at her. She touches the doorway lightly, 

feeling her way ; then moves up R. C. until her hand 

rests upon the back of a chair. 

Edith {to herself) I thought the little thing never 
would go to sleep to-night. Ha, ha. ha ! {laughing lightly) 
She is so excited about her birthday. Now I can finish 
her present, {she crosses, touching another chair lightly 
on the way and moves to table L. c. taking up a little 

lace bed-spread) ttj-.u ;o 

Her. {as she is crossing) She is smiling. Edith is 

always happy. 



i6 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Edith, {standiftg at right of table and facing Her- 
bert) I wonder what Herbert is doing now 1 

Her. {aside) What pretty eyes she has ! 

Edith. I always feel a little lonely when Herbert is 
away. 

Her. {aside.) I wonder what she is thinking about. 

Edith, {listening suddenly and smiling) There's 
some one here, {laughing lightly and holdijig out her 
hand) Let me guess. (Herbert reaches forward his 
hand and touches the back of Jier hajid gently with one 
finger) Herbert ! {pleased) I thought you had gone 
to the ball. 

Her. How do you always know when / touch your 
hand, Edith ? 

Edith. Something tells me, Herbert. 

Her. Something tells you ? 

Edith. I seem to feel that it is you. Your touch is 
always so different from tlie others. It seems so — so 
gentle — and so 

Her. So — tender — and — and — loving ? 

Edith. Yes, Herbert. 

Her. I do love you, Edith. 

Edith. I'm glad of that, Herbert. I like to have you 
all love me. 

Her. Yes, of course, but — the others you know — we 
all love you, certainly, but the rest of them, it's different 
with me. {a slight pause as if waiting for her to speak) 
The rest of them — except Douglas, they're women, you 
know — and little Rosie. 

Edith. Well, can't they love me just as well as you ? 

Her. Yes — they — of course, they can love you as well 
as I, but — my love is a different kind of love from theirs. 

Edith. What do you mean — different — Herbert ? 
{she sits L. c.) 

Her. {aside. Turtis R. and goes up stage) It's no 
use. I can't make love to her. {aloud.) Ask Aunt Ruth 
what the difference is, Edith, {back of her chair, arm on 
table) Is that a present for Rosie 1 

Edith. Yes. It is just finished. A little lace spread 
for the doll's bedstead her papa bought. 

Her. It is very pretty. I am going to take a holiday 
to-morrow, and spend the whole day with you and Rosie. 

Edith. Oh ! I'm so glad. You are very fond of 
Rosie. 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 17 

Her. Yes, I'm very fond, indeed of — Rosie. 

Edith. You spend all the time you can with her and 
me. 

Her. Yes, with her, and — and — you. 

Edith. What long soft hair Rosie has, and her face 
is as smooth as a peach, and it's as sweet too. She is 
beautiful. 

Her. You see so many beautiful things, Edith ! You 
never wish that you could see with your eyes, do you ? 

Edith. Why should I ? No, indeed ! I am always 
happy, like everybody else in the world. 1 sometimes 
dream, Herbert, that there are people who are not happy. 
I dream that people are sometimes unkind to each other. 
Of course, I know it is only a dream ; for when I wake 
up everybody is so gentle and good, and so happy ; but 
something whispers to me it is better to be as I am. I do 
not wish to see. 

Her. We all have eyes for you, Edith ; even little 
Rosie. 

Edith. Oh ! Rosie's eyes are mine. She leads me 
about everywhere and tells me of everything, all day 
long. 

Her. I wish I could lead you around everywhere, as 
Rosie does. 

Edith. You are not always with me. 

Her. I would like to be with you always. 

Edith. Would you, Herbert ? 

Her. Edith, I — I hope to have a little home of my 
own some day. 

Edith. A home of your own ? Do you mean — you — 
you will go away from here ? 

Her. Why — yes — I — I — I hope to have — a — wife. 

Edith. Wife ! Oh ! Herbert ! (lait/i wartn feeling 
ptitting her arm abottt his neck) You must never leave 
us. 

Her. Leave you ? no — I — I don't want to leave you. 

Edith. Oh — can Rosie and I go with you to your little 
home ? {sitting l. c.) 

Her. Well — you — of course, if — if Rosie — but — you — 
see — when a young man gets married — I — I love Rosie 
very much — but — you — she — we — you'd better ask Aunt 
Ruth about that too, Edith, {rising, crossifig C.) I 
must go now. Good-night. 

Edith. Good-night, Herbert ? {reaching up her face 
2 



i8 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

for him to kiss her. He leajis down, about to kiss her 
lips ; he hesitates, then raises her hand a?id kisses it 
gently) 

Her. Good-night, {exit up l.) 

Edith, {aside) Herbert will never be lonely in his 
little home with so many of us ; but I — I — I wish that 
other one wouldn't be there. 

• Eftter Mrs. Ruth, r. 2 e., and crosses to Edith. 

Mrs. Ruth. It is long after bed-time, my darling. If 
Rosie should wake up she would miss you. Ycu have 
finished the spread, I see. {taking spread from Edith, 
who sits in deep thought) It is very nicely done, my 
dear. 

Edith. Mother ? 

Mrs. Ruth. Edith ? 

Edith. What — difterent kinds — {risijtg) of love — are 
there ? 

Mrs. Ruth. Different kinds of love ? There are 
many kinds, my pet : a mother's love ; a father's, or a 
sister's, or a brother's, or a friend's. Then there's an- 
other love, Edith — the love that two good people have for 
each other when they are married. 

Edith. Do two people always get married when they 
love each other ? 

Mrs. Ruth. Not always. They generally do. 

Edith. Why ? 

Mrs. Ruth. They feel lonely. They want to be to- 
gether — to comfort and to take care of each other. But 
you mustn't sit up any longer, {walking with her R.) 
I'll come to you as soon as I arrange the little bedstead. 
(Edith goes out r. 2 e.) I have given the little pet her 
first lesson in love, (looking after her) That's quite 
enough for the present, I think, {turning and crossing 
up L.) Herbert does need a little help, {kneeling at a 
toy bedstead, arra^iging spread^ etc. Edith is heard 
calling ''Mother" without. Mrs. Ruth starts up) 

Re-etiter Edith. 

Edith. Mother ! Oh, mother ! {rushijtg across 
stage excited) 

Mrs. Ruth, {intercepting her l. c.) My child ! 

Edith. Rosie ! Rosie ! She is not asleep — nor 
awake — she is struggling — and • 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 19 

Mrs. Ruth. Calm yourself, my child. Rosie is 
dreaming, perhaps. She has been so excited all day. 

Edith. She is so cold, and she breathes so hard ! 

Mrs. Ruth. Come, Edith, {she goes out, Edith /<?/- 
lows, R. I E.) 

Enter Buxton Scott and Douglas, up r. 

Scott, {as he enters) That's the only obstacle in 
our way now, Douglas. The directors of the bank are 
willing to settle it. {ruuarn drop) 

Doug, {crossing down to table R. c. laying coat on 
back of chair) I'll do all I can in the matter. 

Scott. See you in the morning, {waving his hajid) 

Doug, {waving his hand) At nine, {exit ScOTT 
tip L. Douglas takes note from his pocket) What hour 
did she say ? {music. Reads) " Any time before eleven." 
I must send a line to Chetwyn {writes) and tell him it is 
impossible for me to join him at supper this evening. 
{strikes bell. Enter JOHN up L. Douglas encloses note in 
envelope, directs it, and hands note to JOHN) Tell 
Morgan to take this to the Union Club — immediately. 
{rises, crosses to R. C, takes coat and hat. Exit John. 
He looks at his watch) Now for Mrs. Dunbar's, {music. 
Exit up l..) 

CURTAIN, QUICK. 
Time: — 2>?) Miftutes. 



ACT II. 

Lights down to work up at cue. Lighted lamps turned 
dowfi very low on table L. H. 

Log fire and Red Medium down a little. 

Calcium back of witidow L. u. E. 

Foots to work on latnp being turned up. 

Music at rise. 

Large footstool behind armchair L. c. 

Curtains on windows closed. 

Scene. — The same. Night. A single lamp or drop- 
light upon table. At rise of curtain enter Douglas 
up L., in some haste^ and with expression of anxiety. 



20 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

He is still in evening dress and has his overcoat on 
and hat in hand, as if having entered too hastily to 
throw them aside. He is followed by John, who 
waits for coat attd hat. 

Doug, {as he crosses C.) Eleven o'clock, you say ? 

John. Yes, sir. Miss Rosie was taken ill about the 
time you left the house, sir. 

Doug. Did Dr. Melbanke come promptly 1 

John. Yes, sir. And he is still here. 

Doug. Still here ! Two o'clock. Dr. Melbanke still 
here. It must be serious, {goes quickly down R. Dr. 
Melbanke steps in r. i e. raising his hand to check 
him) The child, Doctor ! Rosie ! 

Doctor. She is sleeping. 

Doug. Is there danger ? 

Doctor. I hope for the best. 

Doug. Ah ! {with a sigh of relief, walki7ig L.) 
What is it, Doctor 1 (John goes out with coat and hat 
r. u. e. 

Doctor. Just such an attack as she had two years 
ago. 

Doug. She recovered from that in a few days. 

Doctor, I trust she will do the same in this case. 

Doug. Has she suffered much ? 

Doctor. She is now entirely free from pain. 

Doug. Can I go to the room, Doctor ? 

Doctor. She is in a quiet sleep. We must take every 
advantage of it. 

Doug. I might relieve her mother. 

Doctor. The child's grandmother is with her. 

Doug. Ah — Constance is resting. 

Doctor, Mrs. Winthrop herself has not returned yet. 

Doug. Not — returned ? 

Doctor. She is at Mrs. — Warrington's — I believe. 

Doug, {with a slight start) At Mrs. Warrington's ? 

Doctor, Up to half an hour ago I thought the case a 
very harmless one, and I advised them not to send for 
Mrs. Winthrop, But it took a more serious turn, and we 
sent for her. She has not arrived yet, 

Doug, {aside) Constance did go ! 

Doctor. 1 thought it was she that entered when I 
heard you at the door. I came downstairs to ask her not 
to go to the child at present. Mrs. Winthrop will be 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 21 

somewhat excited, of course — returning from a — a social 
festivity — under such — such unusual circumstances. 

Doug. Yes. {with some bitterness in his tone) From 
a fashionable ball-room to the bedside of a sick child is an 
abrupt change — for a mother. 

Doctor. Will you kindly say to Mrs. Winthrop, for 
me, when she arrives, that the little one is sleeping and 
the utmost quiet is necessary. Her grandmother is tak- 
ing every care of her. If Mrs. Winthrop will, for the 
present, kindly refrain from coming to the room 

Doug. I will tell her. 

Doctor. It will be better for the child, {exit r. i e.) 

Doug. Better for the child that its mother should 
not enter its sick-room ! {sitting by fire R.) 

Enter Mrs. Ruth, r. i e. 

Mrs. Ruth. (r. c.) Douglas ! 

Doug. Mother ! Rosie is still sleeping ? 

Mrs. Ruth. Yes, gently, and without pain. The 
doctor is with her now. I am glad the servant found you, 
Douglas. We sent to the club for you, at first, 

Doug. I was not there. How — how did you know 
where I was, mother ? 

Mrs. Ruth. I happened to overhear you say to Mr. 
Scott that you would go to — to a Mrs. — a Mrs. Dunbar's. 
. Doug. Ah ! yes, I see. 

Mrs. Ruth. When the servant returned and said you 
were not at the club, I thought you might be at that lady's 
house, so Dr. Mellbanke sent there for you. 

Doug. Mother — I — I have a — a favor to ask of you. 
Say nothing to Constance about my having been at Mrs. 
Dunbar's to-night. 

Mrs. Ruth. Say— nothing— to— Constance ! My son ! 

Doug. Do not misunderstand me, mother. 

Mrs. Ruth. No, Douglas, of course not ! I heard 
Mr. Scott tell you that it was positively necessary for you 
to go to Mrs. Dunbar's — some business matter ? 

Doug. Yes, mother, it was, and the cause of my going 
would bring deep pain to Constance, something, indeed, 
harder to bear than mere pain, {sits C.) 

Mrs. Ruth. Nothing can be so importarA, Douglas, 
as perfect confidence between husband and. wife, 

Doug. Mother, please do not say aviything on this 
subject to her. 



22 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Mrs. Ruth. Well, I — I promise you. I would not 
have mentioned it anyway. Constance should have re- 
turned by this time. 

DOUH. It is too early, yet, to leave the most brilliant 
reception of the season. 

Mrs. Ruth. Early ? With such a message ? What 
do you mean, Douglas ? 

Eriter John, up L. 

John. Thomas is returned, madam. 

Mrs. Ruth. And Mrs. Winthrop ? 

John. Mrs. Winthrop had left the house before 
Thomas got there, madam. 

Mrs. Ruth. Ah ! she has taken Mrs. Chetwyn home. 
{exit John) 

Doug. They are discussing the merits of the last new 
costumes, {rising and crossing L.) 

Mrs. Ruth. Douglas, I — I — never heard you speak 
of your wife in a bitter tone. 

Doug. My — wife — went to a " fashionable " woman's 
house to-night, against the earnestly expressed desire of 
her husband. She is now away from her sick child. The 
physician has just requested me to ask her not to go to 
its bedside when she returns. I am a husband and a 
father ! Do you wonder at my bitter tone ? 

Mrs. Ruth, {after amoinenfs patise) Douglas — my 
son ! 

Doug. Mother ! {both c.) 

Mrs. Ruth. May I speak frankly to you ? 

Doug. Need you ask me that ? 

Mrs. Ruth. Even a mother fears to touch upon some 
subjects. I have long wished to say what is in my heart, 
but I — I have hesitated. 

Doug. It must be good for me to know all there is in 
such a heart as yours, {taking her hand a7id passing 
her to chair L.) Through childhood and manhood I have 
never found anything but love there. 

Mrs. Ruth. My darling boy ! {sitting) 

DOL'G. {sitting 071 ottoman) I am a boy again, 
mother. Speak to me — just as you used to. {he has 
placed her in the chair and is sitting on a stool beside 
her) '\, 

Mrs. RutH"; I — I feel to-night, Douglas, that a crisis 
may be at hand^ in the life of the two beings most dear 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 23 

to me in all the world. You are my only child. No ! 
my only soji — for she, too, is my child — my daughter. I 
have known Constance since she was a little girl. I know 
how pure — how full of tenderness and love — her nature 
is. You were very happy — at first. 

Doug. Very — at first. 

Mrs. Ruth. There was contentment and love in your 
home. A change has been gradually stealing over you 
both. 

Doug. Yes, mother — a change. 

Mrs. Ruth. Constance has become more and more 
what is called a " fashionable " woman. 

Doug. Yes. 

Mrs. Ruth. Her child and her husband do not, now, 
receive all her attention, as they once did. 

Doug. No. 

Mrs. Ruth. Her home has become less and less the 
centre of her thoughts. 

Doug. My dear mother ! Speak to Constance ! A 
single word from you 

Mrs. Ruth. No — my son — it is to you that I will 
speak ! 

Doug. To — me ? 

Mrs. Ruth. It is your fault, Douglas, not hers. If 
such a woman as Constance is not the wife and mother 
she should be, it is her husband's fault. 

Doug. My — fault! (rising ajtd backing C) 

Mrs. Ruth, {after a slight pause^ asswning a lighter 
tone) You did not dine at home this evening, Douglas. 
You dropped in at Delmonico's with a friend, you told 
me. You were absent from home 2A\ yesterday evening. 
You had a gentleman's dinner party here on Tuesday 
evening. In fact, you never return to your home in the 
daytime. 

Doug. Business men never do that, {crossing R. C. 
and sitting) We lunch down-town, of course. 

Mrs. Ruth, Of course, {rises and crosses to him) 
I have now been here two months, Douglas. Your wife 
never sees you in the daytime, except on Sunday ; and 
only three times since I came have you spent an evening 
quietly at home with her. 

Doug. The constant pressure upon the time of a bus- 
iness man 

Mrs. Ruth. Yqwx father was a business man, Doug- 



24 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

las ! a successful one too. He left you a large fortune, 
but he made me a very happy wife. He never torgot that 
his wife and child were more to him than all the triumphs 
of his business life. Remember your own childhood. 
Remember the many happy hours your father spent with 
you and me in our home. The trials of his daily work 
never made those hours less bright. Even your father's 
success in business did not conflict with our domestic 
happiness, 

Doug. Those times were different, mother. 

Mrs. Ruth. No, my son ! Domestic love in those 
days withered and died in the same hot fever as now. 
You have caught the disease and your {2X\\^x escaped \\ — 
that is all. Believe me, there are as many men to-day as 
then, rich and successful men, who do not neglect their 
families for the sake of making ♦' money " — who do not 
sacrifice their wives and their children and all their own 
holiest affections 

Doug. Sacrifice ! 

Mrs. Ruth. Yes, Douglas, sacrifice ! 

Doug. Surely you do not think that I- 



Mrs. Ruth. That is what you are doing, my son. 
Your wife has become almost a stranger to you. Her 
heart is slowly starving for the want of your love. She 
is turning in her loneliness to the excitement of fashion- 
able life. What effect imist this daily separation have 
upon a woman like Constance "i {goes up C. Pause) 
You have given her a magnificent house to live in, but 
you've given her no home. 

Doug. Mother ! {rises) 

Mrs. Ruth. For months you and she have been 
growing colder to each other every day. 

Doug. Colder and colder — yes. {crossiiig to C. 
slowly) 

Mrs. Ruth. Now {she hesitates) 

Doug. Now — well ? 

Mrs. Ruth. Your child {j>oints to picture R.) alone 
holds you together. 

Doug. Our child ! {looks out r. i e.) If she were 
to be taken away 

Mrs. Ruth. {coming down to him r. c.) Then, 
Douglas, the holy grief of a father and mother would 
bring you and Constance together. If that great sorrow 
were ever to come upon you, it would bring its compen- 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 25 

sation. Two hearts never know all there is of love until 
they have suffered together. 

Doug, {after a pause, and holdijig her hands in both 
his own) This same kind hand that led me when I v^as 
a boy shall lead me now, mother. I have been cruel to 
Constance. She shall not' be without a home hereafter. 
I will be her companion — her husband, {walking R. ivith 
her, his arm about her waist) As soon as she returns I 
will confess the wrong I have done her. Our love shall 
have a new and a stronger life than ever — from this 
night. 

Mrs. Ruth, When you speak like that, I seem to 
hear your lather's own voice, [turning in doorway) 

Doug. I will try to honor his memory by making 
Constance as happy a wife as he made you. We shall 
both \A^ss you for it, mother. 

Mrs. Ruth. My boy ! {reaching up her face. He 
kisses her. Exit Mrs. Ruth, r. 2 E.) 

Doug, {looking after her. Pause) " Her children 
rise up and call her blessed." {exit after her, R. 2 E. A 
ni07nenfs pause, the stage empty. Music) 

Enter Constance, up l. 

Cons. Back again ! {with a weary air, throwing 
aside her cloak. Pause) How quiet the house is ! It's 
no use going to bed ; I cannot sleep. I wish these " so- 
cial gaieties " as they call them, could go on forever. No 
matter how much 1 go out, or how bright the company 
is, it always ends in this ; I am alone again, and I— I 
can't stop thinking. Oh ! — I wish I could ! I wish I 
could ! Mr. Chetwyn was at the reception this evening, 
Douglas sent him word he could not meet him at the club. 
He sent the message after receiving that note from Mrs. 
Dunbar — she was not there to-night ! Oh ! — why must I 
keep tliinking — thinking ? {starting to her feet and 
moving c. Pauses) Perhaps I am wronging him. Yes. 
No — no — I will not believe it — I have not lost his love ! 
There is something I do not understand ? I will speak to 
Douglas about it in the morning, [synilijig) It will all 
come right. I must get to sleep as soon as I can, to be 
up bright and early with Rosie. I will peep in at my 
little darling before I go to sleep, {going toward door, 
R. 2 E.) 



26 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Enter Edith, r. 2 e. ; also Herbert, up L. 

Cons. Edith ! 

Edith. Oh, Constance ! you have come back. 

Cons. Why 2^x^ yoii up at this hour ? 

Edith, 1 couldn't sleep. T.hey told me to go to my 
room. But I was so unhappy about Rosie 

Cons. Rosie ! 

Edith. Oh ! — you do not know ? 

Cons. Know what, Edith — I do not know what ? 

Edith. The servant was sent to tell you — he 

Cons. Ah ! {a half-suppressed scream) Rosie ! — 
Rosie ! She is not well ! {she hurries past Edith and 
out R. I E. U7ider great excitemejit) 

Her. {Joining Edith r. c.) The servant must have 
missed us, Edith. What is it ? 

Edith. Rosie is ill. The doctor is here. They sent 
me away. (Herbert and Edith ttirn and go up stage) 

Re-enter CONSTANCE, R. 2 E. Mrs. Ruth is following, 
speakitig as she enters. Constance is under great 
emotion. 

Mrs. Ruth. You must calm yourself, my dear child. 
You must calm yourself! Dr. Mellbanke is right. 

Cons. Yes — I know — I know, [moving down L. C.) 

Mrs. Ruth, (c.) You shall go to her presently. 
But she is sleeping very quietly. The slightest noise 
might 

Cons. The doctor is right — he is right. I am excited. 
I have just returned from where people are dancing and 
laughing. I would endanger the life of my child ! {sink- 
ing into chair R. of table L. C.) My own child ! Douglas 
— my husband ! ask him to come to me, mother, ask him 
to come to me ! 

Mrs. Ruth. I will — I will. 

Cons. Tell Douglas I want him near me — I want his 
arm about me, mother. 

Mrs. Ruth. Whatever happens, trust to his love. 
It will always support and comfort you — my daughter ! 
{kissing her J she then turns to Herbert c. Speaking 
apart) Herbert! {Yi^EYLB^Yo: tneets her down tl.C.) Dr. 
Mellbanke wishes you to go for Dr. Holden — at once. 

Her. {apart) A consultation ! 

Mrs. Ruth. S-h-h. {her finger to her lips) Dr. 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 27 

Mellbanke wishes to advise with him. (Herbert turns 
up stage and exit L, MRS. Ruth crosses R.) I will 
speak to Douglas, Constance, {exit R. u. E.) 

Cons, {taking off her jewels, etc., nervously, and 
dropping them on the table before her) Oh, how I hate 
them ! How "I hate them ! Why did I go to-night ? My 
husband ! — I never longed for your love as I do now. 
(Edith makes her way across to Constance) 

Edith. Constance, {laying her hand on her shoulder) 

Cons. Edith — sister ! 

Edith. I am glad you have come back. Rosie was 
talking to me about you before she fell asleep. 

Cons. You have been where / should have been to- 
night, {taking Edith's hand and kissing it. Edith 
starts slightly and puts her other hand to CONSTANCE'S 
cheek) What did Rosie say, Edith ? 

Edith. You are crying, Constance, {sinkifig to her 
knees beside her, with her arms about her) Don't cry. 
The last word little Rosie said, before she fell asleep, was 
•' Mamma." She loves you very much. She often, often 
tells me so. Don't cry, Constance. 

Cons. Did her papa come home before she went to 
sleep ? 

Edith. No. Mother sent to the club for him, at first, 
but he was not there. It took a long time to send to the 
other place, and Rosie was asleep when he came. 

Cons. The — the other place ; — where ? 

Edith. To — to some lady's house. 

Cons. Some — some lady's — house ? 

Edith. I forget the name — but you would know — Mrs. 
— Mrs. — Dun — Dun 

Cons. Dunbar ! 

Edith. That's the name. 

Cons. Mother — sent — to see if — if Douglas was at — 
at Mrs. Dunbar's .-' 

Edith. Yes. Fortunately he w<:zi' there. I'm so glad 
you have both come back. It seems as if you ought to be 
together to-night. Don't cry, Constance, {reaching up 
with her arms about Constance's 7ieck, as the latter sits 
rigidly looking away) Rosie will be so glad to see you 
when she wakes up. The Doctor says she will soon get 
well, {her voice breaking as she speaks, and finally 
dropping her head into Constance's lap, weeping) Don't 
cry. 



28 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Cons. You must go to bed, Edith, at onct. (rising 
with arm about Edith and leading her up R., almost 
choking as she speaks, but controlling herself by an 
effort) It is after two o'clock. 

Edith. Oh, I cannot sleep, Constance — indeed I can- 
not sleep. Do, do not send me away. 

Cons. You — you must go to your room, Edith. 

Edith. If you wish it, Constance. 

Cons. Yes ; good-night. 

Edith. Good-night, {kissing each other. ExHYaatyl 
up R.) 

Cons. I — I cannot breathe — I — it is growing dark ! — 
Douglas — my husband ! — my heart is breaking ! {bury- 
ing her face in her hands, sinks on sofa R.) 

Enter Douglas, r. i e., rapidly. 

Doug. Constance — [sees her emotion and crosses to 
her rapidly) My dear Constance ! You are unstrung 
by this sudden news. You are nervous. Command your- 
self, my darling, (i R. C.) 

Cons. Yes — {drawing up rigidly) — I — I will com- 
mand myself. 

Doug. Let us hope for the best. Dr. Mellbanke says 
that Rosie may awake from her sleep refreshed and on 
the road to recovery, [goes over to door R. i E.) 

Cons, {aside) Summoned from that woman's house 
to the bedside of his sick child ! 

Doug, {back of her. CO'i^^TA.^CY. gazing into fre rigidly 
all through this speech) This night will be the beginning 
of a new and a happy life for you and me, Constance — 
the beginning of a deeper and stronger love than we have 
ever known before. Rosie's future will be all the brighter 
for it. I have not been such a husband to you, of late 
years, as I ought. My feverish haste to make a larger 
fortune has led to what has seemed to you neglect ; — 
and it was none the less neglect because I was uncon- 
scious of it. I have allowed business consideration to 
outweigh all that is best in a man's life. 

Cons, {aside) Business consideration ! 

Doug. Our love has been only flickering. It has not 
died out. We will be companions hereafter. 

Cons, {aside) Companions! {crossing to h.) 

Doug, {rising) You do not answer me, Constance. 
(« pause. She maititains her silence rigidly, looking 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 



29 



away from kirn) You are still silent ? (Douglas ,r/a«r/j 
looking at her a tnoment and then crosses R. c. slowly. 
ffe stops and looks down in thought) Have I discovered 
my fault too late ! 

Enter Doctor, r. i e. 

Cons. At that w^oman's house 1 

Dr. Mellbanke enters, stops, looks first at Constance, 
then at Douglas. The latter turns to speak, does not 
see Doctor. 

Doug. Constance — my — wife — I- -(Dr. Mellbanke ad- 
vances, taps him on shoulder, and beckons to hijn quietly ; 
motions silence on his lips. DOUGLAS starts, exit rapidly, 
takes lyocYOv. off with hijn,'R. i E. Constance, looking 
after them wavers a moment on her feet^ then gives a 
sharp scream, as if suddcfily C07nprehending the truth. 
She staggers across right front, trying to reach door at 
R. I E. Douglas, reappearing, supports her to chair) 

Cons. Rosie — not — not 

Doug. Be — be strong-, my darling — be strong ! 

Cons. Rosie is — she is 

Doug. It — is — over, {she sinks her head on table. 
He stands over her looking doiun tenderly) She passed 
away in her sleep, Constance, my wife ! {bends down as 
if to embrace her. She looks up into his face with a 
cold, half-dazed expression, then turns from him and 
sitiks with her head upon her arms over L. ejtd of sofa 
I R. Douglas withdraws from her slowly, pauses, then 
speaks C.) The last — link — broken ! 

CURTAIN, SLOW. 

17 minutes. 



30 tt)UNG MRS. WINTHROP. 



ACT III. • 

Scene. — Same as Act ist a7id 2d. Constance sitting 
L. c. and Edith hieeling on low stool by her side. 
Constance is dressed in black ; Edith i7i white 
trimmed with black. Music. 

Edith. I have been thinking about Douglas and you, 
Constance, almost all the time, to-day and yesterday. I 
dreamed about you last night. It seems very, very sad 
for Douglas to go away to Europe to-day — all by himself. 

Cons. Yes, Edith ; it is sad. 

Edith. He will be very lonely ; and you will be lonely 
too. Why don't you go with him ? 

Cons. Go with him ? Why — I — never mind, my pet. 
Do not trouble your dear little head about Douglas and 
me. We — we do not find it convenient — to go together. 

Edith. How long will Douglas be gone ? 

Cons. I — I cannot tell. 

Edith. When I asked him he said he didn't know. 

Cons. Don't think of it, darling. 

Edith. I can't help it ; I love you both so dearly, and 
I don't wish you to be unhappy. Mother told me that 
two people who loved each other enough to be married 
wished always to be together ; and I know how I should 
feel if some one that I loved like that should go away. 

Cons. Some one you loved ? 

Edith. Love holds two people together so closely, 
that one is wretched without the other. 

Cons. Why, my little innocent ! How did you come 
to know anything of that. 

Edith. I — I don't know ; I — I've been thinking about 
it for a long time. Sometimes I ask mother. She always 
tells me to listen to my own heart. I — I have been lis- 
tening to it. I — I do love some one, Constance ! {drop- 
ping her head ifito Constance's lap) 

Cons. My child ! 

Edith. I'm not a child any longer, sister. 

Cons. I see you are not, my dear. 

Enter Herbert, up r., with bunch of violets. 
Her. Edith ! (Edith starts up, rising and looking 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 3i 

down with consciousness in her manner) I've come up 
to ffo to the steamer with Uncle Douglas. Here s a 
bunch of violets. They're the first of the season. I ve 
been watching for them. 
Edith. Oh ! thank you. 

Her It's half an hour yet before Douglas will go ; 

and you are so fond of flowers— wouldn't you like to go 

into the conservatory ? . , ^. r j. Aft,^ 

Edith Yes, Herbert, {he is leading her up. After 

a few steps she returns and leans over Constance who 

still sits down L. C.) Sister, don't let Douglas go alone ! 

Cons (kissing her) Go with Herbert, my darling. 

(Edith turns to Herbert, who leads her up attd out R.) 

Cons No longer a child ! I hope she will be happy. 

(Enter 'john with card, up L, U. e. Reading card) 

«' Mrs. Robert W. Mackenzie." {aside) One of mother s 

friends, I suppose— from Boston, perhaps, {aloud) 1 ake 

the card to Mrs. Winthrop, John, {exit John l. i e. 

Enter Mrs. Dick, up l. u. e.) Barbara ! , , , . 

Mrs. Dick. Constance, my love ! Your husband is 
going to Europe, to-day, I hear. 

Cons Yes. {crossing R. and sitting) 
Mrs. Dick, (c.) Business, I suppose. A married 
man never seems to care for the distance he has to travel 
—on business— when he's alone. Dick told me one day 
—there was a big law-case in the West— no, that was 
Bob— it was a medical convention. "I've got to go to 
Chicago, my dear, on professional business, said he 
'. Oh, how/«r / " said I. - Merely a pleasant jaunt, said 
he. •• /'//go with you. my love." said I. " My darling. ^ 
said he, "it's ni^ie hundred miles !" Ha, ha, ha, ha . 
First class in matrimonial geography : What is the exact 
distance between the city of New York and the city of 
Chicago ? Answer : It depends on circumstances. Cor- 
rect |o to the head. {E^iter Mrs. Ruth. l. 2 e.. the 
card in her hand) Ah ! my dear Mrs. Winthrop. I came 
to tell Constance some news— you shall hear it. too. 

Mrs Ruth. Thank you ; I shall be very glad. But-- 
{looking across to Constance)— you sent me a card, 
Constance— a Mrs. Mackenzie. 

Cons. She is in the reception-room. Isn t she calling 

01^ you ? ,,1-1 

Mrs. Dick. Why, Vm Mrs. Mackenzie ! 
Cons. You ! % 



32 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Mrs. Dick. That's my card. 

Mrs. Ruth. {cojtfused) But — your name — is — 
Chetwyn. 

Mrs. Dick. It was clay before yesterday. Dick and I 
have got a divorce. 

Cons. A divorce ! 

Mrs. Ruth. Divorce ! 

Mrs. Dick. M-m. That's my news. Sit down. I'll 
tell you all about it. [they sit) We've been living in 
Connecticut for the last year, you know — except a few 
months in New York, during the winter. 

Cons. Yes — I know. 

Mrs. Ruth, (with a bewildered air) What has 
living in Connecticut to do with a — a divorce ? 

Mrs. Dick. It has everything to do with it. They 
grant you a divorce there for incompatibility of temper. 

Mrs. Ruth. But I — I didn't know that you and your 
husband were incompatible. 

Mrs. Dick. Neither did we — till we went to live in 
Connecticut. We never knew we had any tempers, to 
speak of, before. When we took a house in Stamford, we 
didn't dream of the effect it would have on a man and 
wife. Of course, Dick and I were both witnesses in the 
case. 

Mrs. Ruth. It must have been very sad. 

Mrs. Dick. Yes, it was : — I had on a brocade — 
lavender and old gold — lace to match the lavender — and 
sleeves puffed above the elbows. (Mrs. Ruth looks at 
her in bewilderment) The evidence was so comical. 

Mrs. Ruth. Comical ! 

Mrs. Dick. You ought to have been there. Ha, ha, 
ha, ha ! It was all about how Dick and I have been say- 
ing mean things to each other for a year — so as to obey 
the laws of the State. We called each other all sorts o' 
names. When we were first married Dick said I was a 
turtle-dove ; — after we got to Connecticut he said I was 
a snapping turtle-dove. Ha, ha, ha, ha ! I began by call- 
ing him a donkey — and then I called him a whole lot of 
other animals. He told the judge, according to me he 
was a regular Noah's Ark. I told the judge Dick called 
vie animals too. The judge said we seemed to be a 
happy family ; — and so he granted the divorce. I've gone 
back to my first husband's name. 

Cons. Ah — I remember — Mackenzie. 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 33 

Mrs. Dick. I'm Mrs. Bob again now. I gave Dick 
all the old cards I had left over — and the plate. I didn't 
want to keep Dick's name. If he should get married 
again, it'd be awkward having two of us ; we'd get 
mixed up. Of course it doesn't make any difference to 
Bob. So Douglas sails to-day ? 

Mrs. Ruth, {rising) Yes !— and if you will kindly 
excuse me 

Mrs. Dick. Certainly, {rising) I must run along, 
myself. Good-morning. 

Mrs Ruth. Good-morning, {then moving to her 
and speaking very earnestly) Believe me, my dear 
Mrs.— Mrs. 

Mrs. Dick. Mackenzie. 

Mrs. Ruth. Mackenzie. I am very sorry that you 
and your husband are separated. 

Mrs. Dick, {earnestly) Thank you, my dear Mrs. 
Winthrop — but don't worry yourself about it — we don't. 
(Mrs. Ruth turns, and goes out l., shaking her head) 
Good-bye, Constance, my love — I'm going to pop in and 
tell Mrs. Garnette : — she's just got a divorce, too, you 
know, {kissing her and going up stage) 

Cons. Good-bye. {moving up near picture of ^o^\E., 
stands) 

Mrs. Dick, {stopping up r. c. near opening, and 
looking -L.) Here's Mr Buxton Scottt. (Buxton ScoTT 
appears from L. He a?td Mrs. Dick bow deeply to each 
other) 

ScoTT. Mrs. Chetwyn. {comes down c.) 

Mrs. Dick. Mrs. —Mackenzie ! — if you please. 
{down c.) 

Scott. Eh ?— Mac ? 

Mrs. Dick. Dick and I are separated. 

Scott. I never happened to meet either of you when 
you werefi't separated. 

Mrs. Dick. We've got a divorce. 

Scott. Ah ! Then you and Dick will see something 
of each other. I congratulate you both. When were you 
divorced ? 

Mrs. Dick. Day before yesterday. 

Scott. And you've married a Mr. Mackenzie since 1 

Mrs. Dick. Mr. Scott ! 

Scott. Oh ! I beg your pardon ; you've taken your 
first husband's name .? 



34 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Mrs. Dick. Yes. My maiden name was too far back. 
By the bye, my darling old aunt, Miss Vandevere, said the 
other day that she hoped you would come and see her. 

Scott. With pleasure. She's a charming old lady. 
Give her my compliments. Tell her I hope to drop in 
often. 

Mrs. Dick. I will. I'm living with her. 

Scott. Eh ? {in surprise) 

Mrs. Dick. You are still a bachelor ? 

Scott. I am. 

Mrs. Dick. I pity you, Mr. Scott. You should marry, 

Scott. And pity myself? I prefer to have you pity 
me. 

Mrs. Dick, {approachitig him) You really ought to 
make some woman happy. 

Scott, {aside) She's after number three, {crossing 
r., turning to her) My dear Mrs. Dick. 

Mrs. Dick. Bob. 

Scott. Mrs. Bob. {looking dow 71 at her through his 
eye-glasses) I'll drop in on Dick and ask his opinion. 
He knows you so well. 

Mrs. Dick. Me ! Bless you ! I meant Aunt Jane. 

Scott. Oh ! {tur7ii7ig R.) 

Mrs. Dick. I'm sure she'd make you happy. She's 
a charming old lady. Ha, ha, ha, ha ! — {running up L. — 
stops) Come and see Aunt Jane — often, {exit up L.) 

Scott. An old maid and a young grass-widow ! two 
to one ! {crossi7tg'L.) I shall not call, {he tur7ts, chatig- 
i7ig his tone and 7>ta7t7ter) Constance, {she turns to 
him, givi7ig both her hands. He holds theni i7i his own^ 
looki7ig at her with ki7idly ijiterest, a7id speaking in an 
earftest, fatherly to7ie) Douglas asked me to come and 
see him this morning before he sailed. 

Cons. He is in his room, I will send for him. {crosses 
to L. c.) 

Scott. Thank you. {looki7ig steadily into her face) 
Constance, I have known you and Douglas since you 
were children. You have often called me your " second 
father." 

Cons. You are the dearest friend we have in the 
world. 

Scott. There is something on your heart. 

Cons. On — my — heart ? 

Scott. I'm only a hard old bachelor, and a stony- 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 35 

hearted old lawyer, but you may speak to nie — as — as — 
if I were really your father. 

Cons. There are some things which one cannot — will 
not — talk about — to any one. 

Scott. When you were a little girl, you used to bring 
all your troubles to me. 

Cons. I am a woman now. 

Scott. Constance, there is something wrong between 
you and your husband. 

Cons. Something — wrong — yes. 

Scott. Will you confide in me ? 

Cons. I — I — [hesitates, turns away) — Oh! I cannot ! 
— I cannot confide in any one. 

Scott. I will not ask you to ; but I will give you the 
advice which your own father would if he were living. 
Whatever is on your heart, go to your husband. 

Cons. To him f No, I am a humiliated wife. My 
natural pride compels me to be silent. 

Scott. What can have happened to make you feel 
like this ? 

Cons. We will not talk about that. For two years 
and over we have been growing more distant and more 
indifferent. We — we do not love each other now. 

Scott. M-m-m. You do not love each other ? 

Cons. No ; our love is a matter of the past. 

Scott. How long will Douglas be gone ? 

Cons. I — I do not know. 

Scott. M-m-m. Of course, now that your love is a 
matter of the past [glancing at her shrewdly) it must be 
a great relief to you to — to have Douglas go away. 

Cons. Yes, — it is — [choking) a — a — a great relief. 
[bursting into tears. ScoTT approaches her and drops 
07ie arfn about her waist) 

Scott. My child ! 

Cons. Father ! [turning to him and hiding her face 
on his breast) 

Scott, [tenderly, yet half humoroiisly, pattiiig her 
head) I'm sorry you don't love each other any more. 
It is nearly time for Douglas to start, my dear ; go and 
ask him to come to me. 

Cons. Yes — I — I'll — [going l.) I'll tell him you are 
here, [exit L. 2 E., still crying) 

Scott, [looking after her, with a smile) It's a pity 
they don't love each other any more. I shall make it my 



36 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

ersonal and professional duty to bring these two wrong- 
eaded young people together — in spite of themselves. 
Providence, so to speak, has appointed me their attorney. 
I — take — the case. The devil is the opposing counsel. 
He's a good lawyer, and highly respected by his fellow- 
members of the profession. He and I have frequently 
been on the same side of the case ; I know his tricks. 
{sitting R.) I dare say a little lying will be necessary. 
If it is, I'll beat him at his own game. Even a lawyer 
must lie, now and then. 

Enter Douglas, r. 2 e. He is in travelling suit, 

Doug. My dear Scott ! {taking Scott's hand) 

Scott. Douglas ! 

Doug. I must apologize for asking you to come here ; 
but I found it impossible, yesterday at the office, to say 
what I wanted, {he strikes bell on table L. C.) I — I could 
not say it until the very last moment, {enter John, l. u. 
E.) Is the carriage at the door ? 

John. Yes, sir. 

Doug. Tell Henry my trunk and valise are ready, and 
say to my mother and Miss Edith that I v^ill be down in 
a few moments. 

John. Yes, sir. {exit up l. u. e.) 

Doug, {turning to Scott) I arranged yesterday for 
you to take the entire management of my property during 
my absence. 

Scott. Yes. 

Doug. I — I also hinted that I should ask you to make 
certain settlements of my estate, {a pause) My de- 
parture for Europe, to-day, is the beginning of a final 
and absolute — separation — between my — wife — and me. 

Scott. A — final — separation ! The cause of this, 
Douglas ? 

Doug. What makes a solid rock fall to pieces without 
any apparent caus^ ? The silent and invisible power of 
a winter's frost. A frost like that has come upon Con- 
stance and me. {a slight patise) It was my own fault. 
1 gave myself up to the struggle for wealth. My wife 
lived alone and neglected, as many another rich man's 
wife lives — surrounded by everything a husband's money 
can furnish to make her happy. One night — not many 
weeks ago — my mother told me how cruelly I had ne- 
glected Constance — how I had robbed her of a home. 1 



YOUNG MRS. WliNTHROP. 2,7 

confessed my wrong to my wife at once. I spoke to her 
lovingly. She was silent. At that very moment the 
Angel of Death passed upwards with the soul of our little 
one in his arms. My child— and my wife's love— were 
both — dead ; it seemed as if we buried them in the same 

grave. Since that night, Constance has been — respectful 

and kind to me, but cold and distant — never the loving 
wife. We have both lived within ourselves— strangers 
to each other in our own home— husband and wife only 
to the world. We are nothing to each other now but— ice. 

Scott. M-m. {glancing at him, then rather care- 
lessly) I hope you'll have a pleasant voyage, Douglas 

and a happy time on the other side. 

Doug. Happy.? Can you say " happy " ? You.? 

who knew us both when we were happy, indeed ! How 
can you mock me like that ? You are cruel, Scott— you 
are cruel ! (ScOTT approaches him c, and extends his 
hand) 

ScOTT. T>oug\^s— {taking one of his hands in his 
own) I see you are quite right. You are both of you 
nothmg— but— ice. {looking into Douglas's /^^^ with a 
keen glance, then turns, still holding his hand j Douglas 
returns his glance, then turns away l. Scott continues 
aside, turning r.) Mount Hecla is nothing but ice, on 
the outside, but it's a tolerably lively volcano, for all that • 
there's plenty of heat inside. 

Doug. I wish you to— to draw up the papers for an 
equal division of my property, between my wife and me 
—and such other papers as our— legal— separation— may 
mvolve. 

Scott. No, Douglas !— I cannot. I love you both 
too much, {going up r.) 

Doug. I should not have asked you. We must call 
upon a stranger, after all. 

Scott. No !— not to a stranger. If— if it must be 
done, you may leave it in my hands. How long will 
you be away ? 

Doug. I cannot tell, years,— perhaps. I feel now as if 
I could never return to America, {crosses to R.) 

Scott. You must. 

Doug. Must ? 

Scott, {aside) Now for my first lie in the case. 
{comes down l. Aloud) I cannot possibly make a division 
of your property unless you are in this country. 



38 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

DOUC. You have my power of attorney. 

Scott. In such a case as this a power of attorney 
would be utterly useless, {aside) He doesn't know any- 
thing about law. If another lawyer overheard my legal 
advice, he'd think I didn't, {aloud) Can't you come 
back — in three months ? 

Doug. Three months ? Impossible ! 

Scott. I shall be obliged to leave New York in four 
months, for the Sandwich Islands — an important case 
for the United States Government. I may be gone two 
years, {aside) The opposite counsel himself can't beat 
that. 

Doug. I cannot confide this matter to any one but 
you. 

Scott. Well, then — you must return — in three months. 

Doug, {after a pause) Well, I will. 

Scott, {aside) I've gained the first point in the case. 
The sooner I can bring them together, the harder it'll be 
for the devil to keep them apart, {aloud) Constance, of 
course, understands my relations to 

Doug. We have never spoken on the subject of our 
final separation. 

Scott. Ah ! 

Doug. Of course, we both understand the situation. 
But we bade each other good-bye, a moment ago, with- 
out a word. 

Scott. You have said good-bye, already ? 

Doug. Yes. {going up) I am simply flying from a 
life which I can endure no longer, {to fireplace) We 
can write to each other on the subject. We cannot trust 
our tongues. You, of course, can communicate with 
Constance, as my representative. 

Scott. My dear Douglas — you do not understand the 
law. 

Doug. The law ? No. 

Scott. {aside) I don't intend he shall. {aloud) 
It is a legal impossibility for me to act in any capacity 
whatever between you and your wife, unless you meet 
her again, personally — at once — and come to an exact 
mutual understanding as to your respective intentions, 
De Vinculo Matrimonii — Chapter thirty-seven — section 
two hundred and thirty-nine — Revised Statutes — 1878. 
{aside) Lie number three, {strikes bell oti table) If I 
leave them alone together, it's twenty to one he won't go 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 39 

to Europe at all, {enter ]OYi^, L. u. E.) Please ask Mrs. 
Winthrop if she will kindly come here, {exit John L. I 
E.) Good-bye Douglas, {extending hand) 

Doug. You will remain t {sa7ne to Scott up l.) 

Scott. I have an immediate engagement, {taking 
out watch) It is now after eleven o'clock. I have a case 
before the Superior Court at eleven-thirty, {aside) If I 
keep on lying at this remarkable rate, and with such per- 
fect ease, I'll begin to suspect I'm the devil himself. 
Good-bye, Doug, {turning up L. Douglas turns up 
C.) If the good angels ever do help a lawyer — when he 
happens to be on their side — I'll win my case, {music 
until curtain. Exit up L. Douglas has taken a min- 
iature from the table C. He raises it to his lips and is 
looking at it as Constance enters, l. i e.) 

Cons, {standing in front of chair, L. c.) Douglas ! 

Doug. Constance ! {leaves miniature on the table) 
I have just had an interview with Mr. Scott. I desired to 
leave — a — a very important matter — affecting us both — in 
his hands. But he has just assured me that he cannot 
possibly act as our legal adviser in any way whatever 
unless we come to a — a full mutual understanding as to — 
as to — the — the relation which we — which we intend to — 
to bear to each other — hereafter. 

Cons. A — a mutual understanding — yes. (Douglas 
R. Constance l. c.) 

Doug. We may be perfectly frank with each other 
now. We will speak at last what we have both under- 
stood for many weeks in our hearts. My departure is 
only a cloak, of course, to hide the" truth for a little time 
from our friends, and from the world. We — we are about 
to — separate — forever. 

Cons. Separate — forever — {with emotion, almost stag- 
gering) yes. 

Doug. I find it necessary to return in three months. 
We can then make such — final — and permanent— arrange- 
ments — concerning our — our merely legal relations — as 
we may mutually agree upon. I — I take it for granted 
that you, no more than I, desire any form of — divorce ? 

Cons. No— not that,- 

Doug. We can both trust Mr. Buxton Scott. 

Cons. Yes. 

Doug. He can draw up the papers for a mutual agree- 
ment of — separation — in the usual legal form. We 7mist 



40 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

meet — once more — to sign it — and — and — that will be 
the — end. 

Cons. The — end — yes ! 

Doug. While I am away you will remain in this house ; 
and I shall have it transferred to you in the final division 
of the property. It has many sad memories for both of 
us ; but we have passed some very happy hours in it, too. 
{pause) Good-bye, Constance, {jnoving to her and ex- 
tending his hand. Warn curtain, muffled warning') 

Cons, {turning toward him, and placing her hand 
in his, looking down) Good-bye, Douglas, {as they 
shake hands Constanck passes to R., l3oUGLAS up to 
table C. He holds her ha?id a 7noment j theji turns up 
stage to the table C, taking the child's picture) 

Doug. Constance, you have other pictures of Rosie. 
I, too, have another with me. But this one has a value 
in my eyes that no one else, not even you, could under- 
stand. May I take it with me ? 

Cons. Yes. {spoken more by motion of lips) 

Doug, {aside) Mother and child in one. {puts pic- 
ture in his inside coat pocket, stands a mo7nent looking 
at her, turns quickly up stage and off L. U. E. CON- 
STANCE, without turning, and after a momenfs pause, 
sinks on knees before easel, sobbittg quietly. Music) 

CURTAIN— HALP^ SLOW. 

Twenty-three Minutes. 



Music at rise half plaintive, M. P. 

ACT IV. 

Scene. — Same as that of Act I., without the child's 
toys, and with some changes in the arrangejnent of 
the furniture. Small table a little left of C, front 
with inkstand and pe?is. The portrait of RosiE is 
absent. No fire. It is now spring. Afternoon. Edith 
and Herbert discovered. She is sitting 7tear C, 
sewing. He sits with a book in his hand, R. of her, 
in a thoughtjul attitude, as if he had stopped reading, 
losing himself in reverie. 

Edith. Itis a very pretty story. Go on, Herbert. I 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 41 

like to hear you read. You've been silent for a long 
time. 

Her. I've been thinking. 

Edith. What about ? 

Her. About joi(. 

Edith. I must go to my room. I haven't given the 
canary his bath to-day, and I must see how the old cat 
and the new kittens are getting on. (rising: About to 
rise) 

Her. No ; please don't go. {she resumes her seat) 
Edith, you are so different from what you used to be. 
You always run away from me, now — except when some 
one is with us, or when I am reading to you — and when- 
ever I try to tell you what is in my heart you change the 
subject. 

Edith. I must thread my needle again. 

Her. {after a glance and a pause) I'll thread it for 
you. 

Edith. You ! {laughing, as she takes thread) I 
haven't time to wait. 

Her. Oh, I can thread it. Every young bachelor 
learns how to do that. I often have to sew on buttons 
and things. 

Edith. Well, you may do it. 

Her. {taki7ig fieedle and thread) Whew ! 

Edith. What's the matter ? 

Her. It's sharp. 

Edith, {laughitig) Didn't you know that before. I 
knew you'd get into trouble. Mind you thread the right 
end. 

Her. You like the story I am reading ? 

Edith. Yes. The part I like best is where love is 
gradually growing in her heart — without her knowing 
why — or where it came from — or what it is. 

Her. I can't see anything of that kind in the story. 

Edith. You can't? 

Her. She doesn't seem to love him at all, yet. 

Edith. Oh, yes, she does ! 

Her. She always avoids him ; and whenever he tries 
to make love to her she finds an excuse for leaving him — 
or talks about something else. 

Edith. Why, that's the very sign she loves him. 

Her. Is it Edith ? {eagerly) 

Edith. Of course ! Don't you understand that .? 



42 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

I'm sure she loves him. I feel it as you go along in the 
book. 

Her. [significantly — looking at her earnestly) That's 
just the ^NdL^ you act to me. 

Edith. Is the needle threaded ? 

Her. One moment, {suddenly beginning to thrust 
the thread at the eye of the needle) 

Edith. How are you getting on ? 

Her. Splendidly. {Bus.) We're having a regular 
set-to. {Bus.) This is such a little fellow ! 

Edith. Ha, ha, ha, ha ! 

Her. I can always get ahead of a big one. 

Edith. Ha, ha, ha ! Hadn't /better do it, Herbert ? 

Her. No. I can do it. {with a vigorous thrust) 

Edith, {after a pause) Isn't the hero of the story 
funny, Herbert ? 

Her. Funny ? — how ? 

Edith. He was so frank and bold at first. But now 
that she really loves him, he never seems to know what to 
do or say. 

Her. Oh, /understand him well enough. 

Edith. He seems almost 'fraid ©r her. 

Her. Of course he does. That's the way with any 
man, when he really loves a woman, {looking at her 
eartiestly) I'm almost afraid oi you. 

Edith. Is the needle ready .'' 

Her. I'll hit it in the eye in a moment, {beginning 
to thrust at the needle again. He goes on, keeping his 
eye intently on the needle, and trying to thread it with 
a variety Oj ?notions, ranging from quiet efforts to des- 
perate thrusts) Of course a man can't talk to a woman 
he loves — {needle) as easily as he can — {needle) to a 
woman he doesn't love. 

Edith. In the last chapter you read they were alone 
together nearly an hour, and he never said a word about 
love. 

Her. He was coming to the subject half a dozen 
times — {needle) and she always turned him off. 

Edith. But she was thinking about it. 

Her. How could he tell that ? 

Edith. He might have guessed it. 

Her. I don't see how he could guess that she was 
thinking about love (paying great attention to needle, he 
succeeds in getting the 'hread in the eye of the needle 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 43 

but on rising to hand it to her he pulls it out again) — 
when she was talking about her old cat and new kittens 
— [tteedle) or her canary's bath. 

Edith. I don't remember that in the book. 

Her. Eh !— Oh !— No. 

Edith. There's nothing about a cat or a canary in the 
story you were reading. 

Her. You know the story I am thinking about. 
(rising and leaning over her, speaking earjiestly) Do 
you remember, Edith, one night last winter, I told you 
I hoped to have a little home of my own .-* 

Edith. Yes. {tiropping her head) 

Her. And I said, I — I hoped to get — married. 

Edith. Yes. 

Her. You didn't know what I meant — when I told 
you — I loved you. 

Edith. I — I never dreamed of such a thing as love till 
that night. 

Her. I tried to teach you what it was. 

Edith. It seems as if I had lived years since then. 

Her. {with deep earnestness) Edith — I — love you- — 
with all my soul ! — but I feel as if /could learn from you 
now. I hardly dare ask for your love. It could not be 
stronger than mine — but it would be better and sweeter 
and purer. 

Edith, {after a slight pause. Rising) You need 
not ask for it. It belongs to you. 

Her. My darling ! {embracing her) I shall be your 
guide and your protector through life ! 

Edith. Oh, Herbert — I am so happy ! {her head rest- 
ing on his breast) 

Her. Whew ! 

Edith, {starting up) What is it, Herbert ? 

Her. That needle. 

Edith, {sympathetically) O — h ! — where is it ? 
{taking his hatid, which he puts in hers, and touching 
different Parts with her finger) Here ? 

Her. No. 

Edith. Here ? 

Her. No. 

Edith. Here ? 

Her. Yes — there. 

Edith. Ah ! {putting his hand to her lips, Her- 
bert kisses her) 



44 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Her. We can look after the old cat and the new 
kittens, now. {exeunt R. i E.) 

Enter Constance up r. She moves down R. c. glancing 
at clock on mantel. 

Cons. Will the time never come .-* Oh, I wish to- 
day were past ! 

Enter Mrs. Ruth up l. in bonnet, etc. 

Mrs. Ruth. Constance ! — I have just left Douglas — 
at his hotel. He has told me the worst ! This afternoon 
you are to sign the papers that separate you forever. 

Cons. Yes. I could not tell you. 

Mrs. Ruth. When Douglas did not come to his own 
home, I knew, for the first time, how wide the gulf be- 
tween you had become. Is it too late ? 

Cons. Yes ! — Too late, {crossing L.) 

Mrs. Ruth. Douglas said the same. My heart is 
full, {she stops near door with her hands over her face _; 
rouses herself and turns) I — I shall always love you, 
Constance, as my own child ! 

Cons. Mother ! {going to her) 

Mrs. Ruth, {embracing her) My daughter ! {she 
kisses her and goes out R. i E. CONSTANCE stands 
looking after her) 

Enter John up l. with a card. 

Cons. I can see no one to-day, John — {takes card) 
except — Mr. Buxton Scott will be here — you may admit 
him at once. {Exit JOHN up L. CONSTANCE reads card) 
"Mrs. Richard — Chetwyn! " 

Mrs. Dick, {putting her head in at the door, up L.) 
How d'y* do ! 

Cons. Barbara ? 

Mrs. Dick. Dick and I have got married again. I'm 
using the same old cards. May I come in ? 

Cons. Certainly. 

Mrs. Dick. Til tell you all about it. {sitting beside 
her) It was private. We found that being divorced was 
worse than being incompatible. We were both awfully 
lonely. Ha, ha, ha ! Dick and I went through our 
courtship all over again, just as if we'd never been mar- 
ried at all. Poor Aunt Jane had another dreadful time 
with me. 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 45 

Cons. What do you mean ? 

Mrs. Dick. Aunt Jane Vandeveer brought me up, 
you know. The dear old maid ! I've always been her 
favorite niece. She's going to leave me all her money. 
I went to stay with Aunt Jane again after Dick and I 
were separated. She was more particular with me than 
she was when I was a young lady. Ha, ha, ha ! One 
day Aunt Jane and I passed Dick on Madison Avenue. 
Of course we didn't bow to each other. But Dick winked 
at me. Aunt Jane saw it. She was fearfully indignant. 
The next time we met — Aunt Jane was on the opposite 
side of me — I winked at Bob — I mean Dick. After that 
we carried on a regular flirtation with each other. He 
used to pass the house and wave his handkerchief. Aunt 
Jane always closed the parlor shutters with a bang, and I 
kissed my hand to him out of the second story window. 
Ha, ha, ha ! Then Dick sent me a secret note by one of 
the servants. We arranged a clandestine meeting in 
Stuyvesant Square ; and we went down to Long Beach 
together. Dick said sweet things to me all the afternoon, 
just as he did when we first fell in love ; and after it was 
dark, we wandered off on the beach by ourselves, in the 
moonlight— and I had tears in my eyes — and Dick kissed 
them away — and the next day we ran av/ay and got mar- 
ried. 

Cons. You — ^you ran away — with your own hus- 
band ? 

Mrs. Dick. I had to. Aunt Jane says she'll never 
forgive us. But she will. I always did run away to get 
married. Dick and I are having another honeymoon. 

Cons. I — I am very glad you are happy again, Bar- 
bara. 

Mrs. Dick. Thank you, my dear ; I knew you would 
be. I — I wish you were happy, too, Constance, {in a 
serious totte) 

Cons. I ? 

Mrs. Dick. Forgive me, Constance — but — I — I know 
things aren't quite as they should be. Perhaps I know 
more than I ought to. Women always do. Your hus- 
band hasn't been here since he landed ; and that was two 
weeks ago. I am so happy now with Dick — I don't like 
to see you miserable ; and I feel as if /might have had 
something to do with it. 

Cons. You ? 



46 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Mrs. Dick. I was always such a thoughtless creature ! 
One night last winter I told you how Dick found Douglas 
at Mrs. Dunbar's house once or twice. I thought it was 
great fun then ; but I shouldn't think so now. When I 
was a grass-widow I often met Mrs. Dunbar. She's a 
grass-widow, too, you know. Grass-widows always do 
meet each other ; and they always talk about the infelici- 
ties of married life. That's one reason I'm glad to join 
the army of married women again. Mrs. Dunbar told 
me that it was nothing but a btisiiiess connection with 
Mr. Winthrop and her. 

Enter John, up L. 

John. Mr. Scott is here, madam. 

Mrs. Dick. He's the very man. {rising) 

Cons. Ask him to come in here, John, {exit JOHN) 
What do you mean, Barbara ? 

Mrs. Dick. Mrs. Dunbar said Buxton Scott knew all 
about it. Ask him, my dear, at once. I'll leave you with 
him. Is your mother in ? 

Cons. Yes. 

Mrs. Dick. I'll run and tell her all about Dick and 
me. I know she'll be glad to hear it. {exit R. i E.) 

Enter Buxton Scott, up l. 

Scott. Constance, my dear ! I'm very sorry to come 
on such an errand, {taking her hand) Is there anything 
you wish to say to me before Douglas arrives ? 

Cons. Yes ; I wish to ask you a question. Have you 
ever had any business connection with— Mr. Winthrop — 
and — and Mrs. Hepworth Dunbar ? 

Scott. Mrs. Dunbar ? {aside) Of course ! I might 
have known a woman would pop up somewhere in this 
case, {aloud) Yes, Constance, I had. But that is a 
professional confidence. 

Cons. As you please, Mr. Scott. It is not a matter 
that can now affect the future relations of Mr. Winthrop 
and me. We can never come together again. But it is 
not too late tor me to — be— yw^/^if I have wronged him. 

Scott, {aside) I'll be hanged if I give the devil a 
single point in the case — even for the sake of my profes- 
sional honor ; he doesn't care a rap for his professional 
honor, {aloud) I'll tell you the whole truth, Constance. 
Your brother Clarence 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 47 

Cons. Clarence ! What of him ? 

Scott. He was a confidential clerk, and he speculated 
in stocks — like many another young man. Result — a 
defalcation — fifty thousand dollars. 

Cons. Defalcation ! 

Scott. Doug-las saved him from imprisonment and 
disgrace — {she starts) by meeting the whole amount 
himself, out of his own fortune. 

Cons. Imprisonment — disgrace ! {sinkins; itt chair 
R. C.) 

Scott. It was impossible to prevent the criminal 
arrest of Clarence without the consent of rt:// the creditors. 
The only one that refused was Mrs. Hep worth Dunbar 
to whom a large amount of the misplaced securities be- 
longed. She had certain social grudges to make good ; 
Mr. Douglas Winthrop had declined to allow his wife to 
be introduced to Mrs. Dunbar. She had now an oppor- 
tunity to disgrace the family. Your husband was com- 
pelled to call upon her — frequently — in person. His last 
call was late one night. Clarence would have been ar- 
rested the next day. Douglas's appeal was in vain. He 
was called suddenly from her house that night by a mes- 
senger from home. On the following mornmg I called on 
Mrs. Dunbar myself I told her that the child of Douglas 
Winthrop had died the night before. Even a woman 
like that has a heart. Mrs. Dunbar had lost a child her- 
selt ; and the memory of her own sorrov/ made her merci- 
ful. Your brother was saved. His— fault— is the secret. 
{enter Douglas up l. Scott turns and goes up stage c.) 
Douglas is here. (Constance rises. Nodditig and 
moving up c, DOUGLAS bows to hi?n. Constance turns, 
attd they look at each other a moment ; DOUGLAS crosses 
to her R., extending his hand, which she takes) 

Doug. Constance, {he holds her hand a mo7nent, 
then drops it ; both standitig a mo7nent in silence, look- 
ing down L. c.) 

Cons. Douglas — I — I have this moment heard of a 
great kindness you have done my brother and — me. 
(Douglas glances sharply up at ScOTT) Do not blame 
him. I asked him to tell me. I — {with deep feeling) I 
thank you, Douglas. 

Doug. I only did what any man of proper feeling 
would have done under the same circumstances, {a long 
silence, both looking down, crosses R. to Constance, l.) 



48 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Doug. Mr. Scott, we will proceed with the business 
before us. [both sit. Scott up c, looks fro?n one to the 
otJier, alternately, several times ; then moves down to 
table near C. front) 

Scott. 1 have drawn up four documents, {taking 
papers from his pocket) These two are duplicates. 
{reads endorsejneni on one of the papers) " Douglas 
Winthrop and Constance Winthrop — Deed of Separation." 
(Douglas and Constance, r. and l. Scott sits at 
table, opens the paper, and reads i?t a rapid business- 
like tone) " This Indenture, fnade the sevejtth day of 
May, eighteen hundred and eighty -two, by a?id between 
Douglas Winthrop, of the City and State of New York^ 
party of the first part, and Cotistaftce Witithrop, of the 
same place, party of the second part — Witnesseth ; 
Whereas the said parties of the first and secofid parts 
were lawfully united in wedlock on the twenty-eighth 

day of June in the year " {he stops suddenly in his 

quick reading, the to7ie of his voice changitig, and 
speaking slowly, with natural feeling) I remember that 
day perfectly. We all drove to the church together from 
the old homestead, near Concord. The marriage service 
never seemed so beautiful to me as it did that morning. 
Your dear old father's voice, Constance, had more than a 
pastor's tenderness in it as he uttered the words which 
you both repeated after him — " For better, for worse, in 
sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death 
us do part." (Constance a^id Douglas both rise, turn 
L. to mantel, showing sings of rising emotion as ScoTT 
proceeds) When you knelt at the chancel rail before 
him, his voice was trembling as he repeated that beauti- 
ful prayer : Send Thy blessing upon these thy servants ; 
that they may ever remain in perfect love and peace to- 
gether. (Constance and Douglas drop their heads 
sadly) As he pronounced the blessing — of a pastor and 
father in one — the sun came from behind a cloud — and 
the light streamed through the window on your heads. 
Douglas's mother was leaning on my arm. {heads bowed 
deeply) There were tears in her eyes, but a smile shone 
through them ; as if the love of a mother's heart was 
pouring zVj- blessing upon both her children — like the sun- 
shine through the window, {his voice is a little broken, 
and he brtishes a tear from his eye with his handker- 
chief) But — {brushes away another tear, leaving hand- 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 49 

kerchief 071 /rt<^/^)— Hem— this is a digression. We will 
proceed with the business before us. 

Doug, {turning round to Scott, with choking voice) 
Please read the papers as rapidly as possible, Mr. Scott. 

Cons. We — {choking) we need not delay more than 
is — absolutely — necessary. 

Scott, {resuming his rapid business tone ; reading) 
"And whereas said parties of the first and second parts," 
— but we shall not sign this instrument until we have 
considered the other papers. We will dispose of them at 
once, [putting down the deed of separation, taking up an- 
other paper and rising) This is a deed whereby Douglas 
Wmthrop conveys in fee simple to Constance Winthrop 
the old homestead where she was born, near Concord, 
Massachusetts, {pause) Some of the happiest hours of 
my life were passed there. You two children were al- 
ways running about the place. Constance was a perfect 
little tom-boy. Ha, ha, ha ! You both gave me a partic- 
ularly warm reception, one day, when I had just arrived 
frcm New York. I was going up the gravel walk. Your 
father was coming down the steps to meet me. Con- 
stance came bounding around the corner and you after 
her. She was running one way and looking the other. 
As your father was helping me to my feet, he remarked 
that those children were always upsetting something. 
Ha ! ha ! Five minutes after that, Douglas was in the 
cherry tree, and you were holding up your little apron for 
the fruit ; the old cherry tree down in the corner, near the 
summer house. 

Cons. Oh, no — the cherry tree was in the other cor- 
ner. 

Doug. Over near the old well. 

ScOTT. So it was. When you both grew older, I often 
saw you walking arm in arm on the lawn — after the stars 
came out. {to Douglas) Constance was always ex- 
plaining to me that you were giving her lessons in As- 
tronomy. You were quite as likely to be telling her 
where the stars were in the afternoon, as at night. Those 
were delightful days at the old homestead. 

Doug, and Cons. Delightful ! {with thoughtful 
manner, as if the force of old memories was beginning 
to i7ifluence theiu) 

Scott. I remember you had a lovers' quarrel about 
that time. Constance had given you a pair of slippers 



50 YOUNG MRS. VVINTHROP. 

she had been working for you. When you quarrelled she 
took them away from you, and gave them to me. {all 
laughing) I remember, Constance had a little dark bay 
pony. 

Cons. Oh, no ! {moving to l. c, near Scott) It 
was gray. 

Doug. With a black spot on the left shoulder, {mov- 
ing down to R. c.) 

Scott. Dappled gray — so it was. His name was 
Jack. 

Cons. Oh, no ! 

Doug. No ! 

Cons. It was Jenny. 

Scott, Oh, yes — of course ; his name was Jenny. 
The first time Douglas helped you to mount — Jenny 
{turjiing to Douglas) you gave her too strong a lift ! 

Doug. Yes. {with a sinile) 

Scott, {to Constance) You fell over on the other 
side ! 

Cons. Yes. (Constance and Douglas laugh gently 
and pleasantly . ScOTT laughs with them quietly, mov- 
ing back a step) 

Scott. The old family carriage horse — his name was 
Jack. 

Doug, {crosses to C. Both meet at table c.) Now 
he was dark bay. {to CONSTANCE) You used to drive 
Jack for your father {in front of ScOTT) when he 
made his pastoral visits. (ScOTT gradually retires up 
stage L.) 

Cons. I always sat in the carriage, to keep the flies 
off Jack, 

Doug. I often met you on the road ; and I used to 
think you were doing as pious a work outside, making 
the old horse comfortable, as your father was doing in- 
side. 

Cons. Old Jack was one of the family. Dear old 
Jack ! {sits c.) 

Doug. Dear old Jack ! 

Scott, {up l. c.) Dear old Jack ! {comes dow 71 and 
puts chair side of CONSTANCE behi?id DOUGLAS, who is 
standing with handrestingon ^a^/& ^/Constance's chair. 
Steals quietly back up stage C. He stands up, pretend- 
ing to look over deed, but watching thejn) 

Doug. Do you remember one such afternoon, Con- 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 51 

stance ? You were sitting in front of the little house 
where the old sexton's widow lived. 

Cons, {smiling) How often we used to run down 
there when we were children ! 

Doug, {sits) Yes — she always had fresh doughnuts 
for us on Saturdays, {sitting at her side near the table. 
Scott turns his back and pretends to be reading, but 
shrugs his shoulders as if laughing to himself, Con- 
stance nods smiling) But we had grown older at the 
time I am thinking of now. I joined you in the carriage. 

I I asked you a question that afternoon {taking her 

hand, arm around waist) Do you remember your an- 
swer ? 

Cons. Yes. {as if lost in memory) 

Doug. That was the very word, yes ; I asked you to 
be— my — wife. Oh, Constance ! — I was the happiest man 
in the world. 

Scott. They're doing very well without a lawyer. 
{exit up L.) 

Doug. We were in the shade of the great elm. Old 
Jack turned his head and looked back at us, as if he was 
giving us his consent. This ring — {referring to otie on 
her finger) was the pledge oT the promises we made to 
each other that day ; our initials are engraved inside of it. 

Cons. And the word — " Forever." 

Doug. When I placed it on your finger, in the dear old 
home — {gradually extenditig his arm around her waist) 
I drew you to me — {raisi?tg her ha7id towards his lips 
and I — {he suddenly stops j his eye resting upon the 
deed of separation, on the table near him. He slowly 
withdraws his arm and drops her hand j reaches for- 
ward and takes the paper, finally holding it in both 
hands before him, and looki?tg at it steadily. CONSTANCE 
looks at the paper, draws up, rises and walks R. 
Douglas starts to his feet, drops the paper upojt the 
table, and turns up L. under strojig emotion. He stands 
for a moment before speaking, as if collectijtg his thooghts, 
a?id bringing his feelings under control) We — we were 
losing ourselves — in — in dreams of the past. 

Cons. We had forgotten the — the present 

Doug, {as if suddenly 7ioting ScoTT's absence) Mr. 
Scott ! Mr. Scott ! {re-enter ScOTT ttp L. The deed is 
still in his hand. He stops C, and looks R. and L.) 

ScOTT. I beg your pardon. I left my handkerchief in 



52 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

my hat outside, [moving down C. He discovers his 
hajidkerchief on the table ; picks it up quickly and 
thrusts it into his pocket, glancittg each way. He then 
begins to read very rapidly from the deed in his hand') 
" Said party of the first part does by these presents, grant 
sell, release, convey and confirm — m-m-m — heirs and as- 
signs forever the premises hereinafter described m-m-m-m, 
namely, to wit — South side of the Boston Highroad — in- 
tersection of the county line — thence in a southerly direc- 
tion along the western bank of the Coolsac Creek " — 
Speaking of the Coolsac Creek, by the by — {dropping 
suddetily to a conversational tone) I saw the same old 
clump of willows on the opposite bank, when I was there 
last summer. That was a sort of meeting place for young 
lovers. I remember, one day — I met Douglas and a 
lady there. You remember it, Douglas — what was her 
name ? It was Douglas and Miss — [turning to Con- 
stance who draws up sharply and looks around. 
Douglas looks surprised) That particular friend of 
yours. Constance — Miss — Kate — Miss — really, I 

Cons. Kate Fairfield ! 

Scott. Yes — that's the name. Douglas was arrang- 
ing a bunch of violets in her hair. But this is a digres- 
sion. I beg your pardon, {reads rapidly) "With all 
and singular the tenements, hereditaments, and appur- 
tenances thereunto belonging ; and the said party of the 
first part " 

Doug. Pardon me, Mr. Scott — but you are mistaken ; 
— I was never at the place you refer to with Miss Kate 
Fairfield. 

Cons, {with great dignity and sigfts of rising jeal- 
ousy) Mr. Scott's memory may be more accurate than 
yours. 

Doug. But I protest — I 

Cons. You were saying, Mr. Scott .'' 

Scott. Let me see — it was — no — ah — I am mistaken 
— now I think again — I get you young people so mixed 
up when I recall those days — it was Mr. Lawrence 
Armytage — and — Constance. (DOUGLAS ««<^ Constance 
both start) 

Cons. Nothing of the kind ! {moving down R. a few 
steps indignantly. Scott turns up stage c. standing 
with his back to the audience and looking up at the 
wall^ 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 53 

Doug. Mr. Lawrence Armytage was frequently at 
the house — when /calldd. 

Cons. Kate Fairfield lived on the Highroad between 
your house and mine. 

Doug. Mr. Armytage had always dropped in — to see 
— your father. 

Cons. Whenever you were late — you — {choking) you 
always said it was the old sexton's widow ! {angrily 
crossing to him L.) I saw you, myself — talking with 
Kate Fairfield over the gate — while I was passing in the 
carriage with lather — the very day before I took away 
your slippers and gave them to Mr. Scott — and Fm glad I 
did it ! {drawing up before him, angrily ; then turning 
her back on him ; and returning R. with a dignity in 
absurd contrast with the words and situation') 

Doug, {following her R.) And the very day after 
that you discovered I was only asking Miss Fairfield if 
her mother would lend my mother the hemmer of her 
sewing-machine ! — and you took the slippers away from 
Mr. Scott, and sent them back to me ! 

Cons. Oh! {he returns \.. triumphantly. She turns 
toward hi)n) I didti't send them back to you ! 

Doug. You .? {turning sudderily) Mr. Scott ! {ap- 
pealing earnestly to ScOTT up stage) 

Scott. Eh ? {jumpitig around suddenly) 

Cons, {to Scott) He says /sent those slippers back 
to him. You know I didn't — don't you ? 

Scott. Certainly, you didn't {starting down c.) 

Doug. The package was addressed in her handwrit- 
ing. 

ScoTT. Yes — Constance wrote the address {still mov- 
ing down) 

Cons. Mr. Scott sent it — by the boy — himself. 

Scott. Yes — I sent it. {c. front) 

Doug. It is quite immaterial ; I dare say you sent an- 
other pair to Mr. Armytage. 

Cons. O-o-o-o-o-h ! {bursting into sobs R. c. 
Douglas stands l. C. with his arms folded. ScoTT 
looks from one to the other a moment) 

Scott. Ah, by the way, it has just occurred to me : 
it was Mr. Armytage and Miss Fairfield I saw together 
under the willows. 

Cons. Oh ! {looking up from her sobs) It wasn't 
either of us. 



54 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Scott. When I saw Douglas in the lane — you were 
with him, Constance. 

Doug. Oh ! It was both of us. 

Scott, {to Douglas) You had been gathering some 
water lilies for Constance. 

Cons. Oh, yes ! {brightly with sudden recollection) 

Scott, {to Constance) It was the day he fell into 
the pond. 

Doug. Yes. 

Scott. He got into the mud up to the knees. 

Cons. I remember ! 

Doug. So do I ! 

Scott, {to Douglas) Constance tried to pull you 
^ut of the water ; and {to Constance) He pulled you in ! 
(Constance and Dougt>as burst into a merry laugh, 
nodding at each other across ScOTT) We will proceed 
with the business before us. {their faces suddetily drop) 
Returning to the original deed of separation, {taking up 
the deed. CONSTANCE and DOUGLAS look up at each 
other, across stage, at back, then drop their eyes. 
ScOTT reads) *• The said Douglas Winthrop and the 
said Constance Winthrop, his wife, have by mutual con- 
sent agreed to live separate and apart from each other ; — 
and whereas the said " {enter Edith r. u. e.) Edith ! 

Edith. Mr. Scott ! {music pp.) 

Scott, {going to her) I have some news for you, 
Edith. Your brother Douglas is here. 

Edith. Oh ! Where is he ? {he leads her to 
Douglas who meets her l. c.) 

Edith. Douglas ! {throwing her arms aroujid his 
neck) 

Doug. Edith — my little sister ! 

Edith. Oh — I am so glad you have come home — so 
glad ! We shall all be happy now. 

Doug. Happy ! — Yes. 

Edith. Constance has missed you so much, Douglas 
— so much ! You won't go away from us again — will you ? 

Doug. I— I 

Scott. My little pet ! {taking her from Douglas, 
who turns up stage a few steps) 

Scott. I know you have a great deal to tell Douglas, 
but not now. Sit down, Edith, {leading her to seat L.) 

Edith. Oh, very well — I will wait. But I am so glad 
Douglas is home again. 



YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 55 

Doug. {apa7't in Scott's ea7') We — we cannot go 
on with this — in her presence. 

Scott, {apart to him) I need not read the rest of 
the paper. You and Constance can sign it — in silence, 
(Constance ^/rzw^/j- R. Partly 71 p stage. Scott returns 
to the table near C front ; takes up the deed of separa- 
tion and tur?is,faci?igCo^^TKNCK and Douglas) There 
is one piece of property not mentioned in any of these 
deeds ; — a burial lot in Greenwood Cemetery, with one 
little grave, {a pause, Constance and Douglas looking 
down, with bowed heads) 

Edith. Mother and I went to Greenwood yesterday, 
Douglas. You and Constance must go with us next time. 
The place where Rosie lies is covered with flowers. 
(Constance and Douglas give way to their tears, both 
droppi7ig their faces into their hands") 

Scott. Even a lawyer cannot divide that property, 
nor the memories of a father and mother that cluster 
about the grave of their child : — and there is a little soul 
that belongs to you both, (he turns to the table, turning 
over the leaves of the deed to the last page) You — you 
will both sign — here — if you please, {he takes up the 
pe7i, dips it i7ito the i7ik, a7id turns, holdi7ig it towards 
tJieui. Duri7ig this actio7i they have rushed into each 
other s Lirnis,weepi7ig. Picture. ScOTT turns a7id drops 
the pe7i, taki7ig the deed a7id teari7ig it) I have won the 
case, {he walks tip c.) 

E7iter Mrs. Ruth r. i. e. with an excla77iatio7i, looking 
at Douglas ««^/ Constance with her back to audience. 
Douglas looks up to her, i7teets her up R. C, e/nbrac- 
i7ig her. War 71 curtai7i. E7iter Herbert tip l. 
Places a ring up07i Edith's first fi7iger. E7iter Mrs. 
Dick R. i.e. saili7ig i7i rapidly) 

Mrs. Dick, {as she e7tters) I've been away from 
Dick for nearly two hours, {she tur7is C, Jt'^//z^ DOUGLAS) 
Mr. Winthrop ! {goes to hi77i a7id takes his hand) 

Doug. {s77iiling) Mrs. Dick 1 

Mrs. Dick. Constance! (/z^r;n';/^ /<? Constance) I 
really must go. Dick'U be lonely. We haven't been 
separated so long since we've been married — this time. 
Good-bye, all. {goi7ig tip L.) Ah — Mr. Scott. 

Scott. Mrs. Mackenzie ! 



56 YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP. 

Mrs. Dick. {stopping up l. c. tiiming) Mrs. 
Chetwyn. 

Scott. Eh ? 

Mrs. Dick. Dick and I have got married again. 

Scott. Married again ? You and — allow me. {offers 
her a card) My professional card. 

Mrs. Dick. Thank you — no. We've had quite enough 
of the law ; and if we ever go anywhere by way of Con- 
necticut, we'll take through tickets. Call on us, Mr. 
Scott — any evening — Dick and I are always at home. 
{exit up L.) 

ScOTT. The devil has lost that case, too. {jnusic M. P.) 

Doug, {to Mrs. Ruth, 2uith one arjn about Con- 
stance's waist J raising her hatid in his and looking at 
therifig on her finger) Dear mother, our hearts have 
conquered us. {turning to CONSTANCE) We can trust 
to them hereafter. 

Cons, {looking down at the ritig) Yes, Douglas, 
*' Forever," 

QUICK CURTAIN. 



FRENCH'S MINOR DRAMA. 

Price 15 Cents each.— Bound Volumes $1.25. 



VOL, T. 
1 The Irish Attorney 
5 hnoti nt the Swan 

8 How to Pay the Rent 

4 The Loan of a Lover 

5 The Dead Shot 

6 His Laat Len 

7 The Invisible Princ* 
b The Golden Farmer 

VOL. H. 

9 Pride of the Market 

10 Used Up « 

11 The Irish Tutor 
V2 The Barrack Room 
13 Luke the Laliorer 
H Beauty and the Beait 

15 St. Patrick's Eve 

16 Captain of the WatcK 

VOL. III. 

17 The Secret ipers 

18 White Hone of tie Pep- 

19 The Jacobite 

20 The Bottle 

21 Box and Cox 

22 Bamboozling 

23 Widow's Victim 

24 Robert Macaire 

VOL. IV. 

25 Secret Service 

26 Omnibus 

27 Irish Lion 

28 Maid of Crolisy 

29 The Old Guard 
80 Raising the Wind 

31 Slasher and Crasher 

32 Naval Knengetneutl 

VOL. V. 
.33 Corkoiei in Calitbmi* 

34 Who Speaks First 

35 Bombastes Furiosi 

36 Macbetb Travestie 

37 Ir'sh Ambassador 

38 Delicate Greund 

39 The Weathercock [Gold 

40 All that Glitters is Not 

VOL. VI. 

41 Grimshavr, Bagshaw and 

Bradshaw 

42 Rough Diannond 

43 Bloomer Costume 

44 Two Bonnycastles 

45 Born to Good Luck 



VOL. XI. 

81 O'FlanniginandtheTai 

82 Irish Post [ries 

83 My Neighbor's Wife 

84 Irish Tiger 

85 P. P., or Man and Tiger 

86 To Oblige Benson 

87 State Secrets 

88 Irish Yankee 

VOL. XII. 

89 A Good Fellow 

90 Cherry and Fair Star 

91 Gale 6reerely 
99 Our Jeniimy 
9i> Miller's Maid 

94 Awkward Arrival 

95 Crossing the Line 



96 Conjugal Lesson 

VOL. XIII. 

97 My Wife's Mirror 

98 Life in New York 

99 Middy Ashore 

100 Crown Prince 

101 Two Que. ns 

102 Thumping Legacy 

103 Unfinished Gentlenian 
194 House Dog 

VOL. XIV. 

105 The Demon Lover 

106 Matrimony 

107 In and Out of Place 

108 I Dine with My Mother 

109 Hi-a-wa-tha 

110 A ndv Blake ■ 
lil Love in '76 [tie- 
112 Romance under Diffl 

VOL. XV. 
J 13 One Coat for a Suits 

114 A Decided Case 

1 1 5 Daugh ter [norlty 

116 No; or, the Glorious Mi- 

117 Coroner's Inquisition 

118 Love in Humble Life 

119 Family Jars 

120 I'ersoiiation 

VOL. XVI. 

121 Children in the Wood 

122 Winning a Husband 

123 Day After the Fair 

124 Make Your Willi 

125 Rendezvous 



jiL uic. ;r. >v. r>..i. f 126 My Wife's Husband 

4b Kiss m the Dark D?'-er ,^, M^„^g„ - 



Con- 



47 'Twould PuMle 

48 Kill or Cure 

49 Box and^Cox Married and !?? M'iehief-^?«king[Mln.s 
[Settled 



eur Tonson 
Il28 Illustrious Stranger 
VOL. XVII. 



5'l St. Cupid 

51 Go-to-bed Tom 

52 The Lawyers 

53 Jack Sheppard 
54The Toodles 

55 The Mobcap 

56 Ladies Beware 

VOL. VI If. 

57 Morning Call 

58 Popping the Question 

59 Deaf as a Post 

60 New Footman 

61 Pleasant Neighbor 

62 Paddy the Piper 

63 Brian O'Linn 

64 Irish Assurance 

VOL. IX. 

65 Temptation 

66 Paddy Carey 

67 Two Gregories 

68 King Charming 

69 Po-cs-hon-tas 

70 Clockmaker's Hat 

71 MarrlHd R«ke 

72 Love and Murder 

VOL. X. 

73 Ireland and America 

74 Pretty Piece of Business 
76 Irish Broom-maker 

76 T» Paris and Back f«r 

Five Pounds 

77 That Blessed Baby 

78 On> Oal 

1* Swiss Cottage 
80 Yeung Widow 



130 A Live Woman in the 

131 The Corsair 

132 Shy lock 

!33 Spoiled Chili 

134 Evil Eye 

13;. Nothing to Nurse 

136 Wanted a Widow 

VOL. XVIIL 

137 Lottery Ticket 
!.38 Fortune's Frollo 

139 Is he Jealoust 

140 Married Bachelor 

141 Husband at Sight 

142 Irishman in London 

143 Animai Magnetism 

144 Highways and By-Ways 

VOL. XIX. 

145 Columbus 

146 Harlequin Bluebeard 

147 Ladies at Home 

148 Phenomenon in a Smock 

Frock 

149 Comedy and Tragedy 

150 Opposite Neighbors 

151 Dutchman's Ghost 

152 Persecuted Dutchman 
VOL. XX. 

163 Musard Ball 

154 Great Tragic Revival 

155 High Low Jack & Game 

156 A Gentleman from Ire- 
167 Tom and Jerry [land 

158 VilUge Lawyer 

159 Captain's not A-miss 

160 Amateurs and Actors 



I VOL. XXI. 

161 Promotion [aal 

162 A FascinatlHg Individ- 

163 Mrs. Caudle 

164 Shakespeare's Dr«»m 

165 Neptune's Defeat 

166 Laay of Bedchamber 
'.67 Take Care of Little 

168 Irish Widow [Charley 
VOL. XXII. 

169 Yankee Peddler 

170 Hiram Hiraout 

171 Double-Bedded Room 

172 The Drama Defended 

173 Vermont Wool Dealer 

174 Ebenewr Venture [ter 

175 Principles from Charac- 

176 Ladv of the Lake (Trav) 

Vol. xxiii. 

177 Mad Dogs 

178 Barney the Baron 

179 Swiss Swains 

180 Bachelor's Bedroom 

181 A Roland for an Oliver 

182 More Blunders than One 

183 Dumb Belle 
1«4 LUnirick Boy 

VOL. XXIV. 

185 Hature and Philosophy 

186 Teddy the Tiler 

187 Spectre Bridegroom 

188 Matteo Falcone 

189 Jenny Lind 

190 Two BuMardi 

191 Happv Man 

192 Bets v" Baker 

Vol. XXV, 

193 No. 1 Round the Comer 

194 Teddy Roe 

195 Object of Interest 

196 My Fellow Clerk 

197 Bengal Tiger 

198 Laughing Hvena 

199 The Victor Vanquishtd 

200 Our Wife 
VOL. XXVI. 

201 My Husband's Mirror 

202 Yankee Land 
J03 Norah Creina 

204 Good for Nothing 

205 The First Night 

206 The Eton Boy 

207 Wandering Minstrel 

208 Wanted, KXH) Milliners 

VOL. XXVlL 

209 Poor Pilcoddy 

210 The Mummy [Glasses 

211 Don't Forgr-t your Opera 

212 Love in Livery 

213 Anthony and Cleopatra 

214 Trvlng it On 

215 Stage Struck Yankee 

216 Young Wife & Old Um- 
brella 

VOL. XXVIII. 

217 Crinoline 

218 A Family Failing 

219 Adopted Child 

220 Turned Heads 
2'Jl A Match in the Dark 

222 Advice to Husbands 

223 Siamese Twins 

224 Sent to the Tower 

VOL. XXIX. 

225 Somebody Else 
2. '8 Ladies' Battle 

227 Art of Acting 

228 The Lady of the Lions 

229 The Rightfc of Man 

230 My Husband's Ghost 

231 Two Can Play at that 
Game 



VOL. XXXL 

241 C»oI as Cucumber 

242 Sudden Thoughts 

243 Jumbo Jum 

244 A Blighted Being 

245 Little Toddlekins 

246 A Lover by Proxy [Pail 

247 Maid with the Milking 

248 Perplexing Predicament 

VOL. XXXli. 

249 Dr. Dil worth 
260 Out to Nurse 

251 A Lucky Hit 

252 The Dowager 

253 Metamora (Burlesqne) 

254 Dreams of Delusion 
265 The Shaker Lovers 
256 Ticklish Times 

VOL. XXX IIL 
•/57 20 Minutes with a Tiger 

258 Miralda ; or, the Justice 

of Tai.--on 

259 A Soldier's Courtship 

260 Servants by Legacy 

261 Dying for Love 



232 Fighting by Proxy 
VOL. XXX. 

233 Unprotected Female 
834 Pet of the PetticoaU 

235 Forty and Fiftv [book 

236 Who Stole tlie Pocket- 

237 My Son Diana [sion 

238 Unwarrantable I n t r u - 

239 Mr. and Mrs. White 
24« A Quiet Family 



(French's Minor Drama Continued on )d page of Cover.) 



262 Alarming Sacrific* 

263 Valet de Sham 

264 Nicholas Nickleby 
VOL. XXXIV< 

265 The Last of the Pigtails 

266 King Rene's Daughter 

267 The Grotto Nymph 

268 A Devilish Good Joke 

269 A Twice Toid Tale 

270 Pas de Fascination 
71 Revolutionary Soldier 

272 A Man Without a Head 
VOL. XXXV. 

273 The Olio, Part 1 
«74 Tbe Olio, I'art S 

275 The Olio, Part 3 [ter 

276 The Trumpeter's Daugh- 

277 Seeing Warren 
178 Green Mountain Boy 

279 That Nose 

280 Tom Noddy's Secret 
VOL. XXXVL 

281 Shocking Events 

282 A Regular Fix 

283 Dick Turpin 
3S4 Young Scump 
285 Young Actress 
2w6 Call at No. 1—7 

287 One Touch of Naturt 

288 Two B'hoy» 

VOL. xxxvn. 

289 Ail the World's a Stage 
'/'90 Quash, or Niggjer Prac- 

291 Turn H,im Out [tice 

292 Pretty Girls of Stillberg 

293 Angel of the Attic 

294 CircumstancesalterCaiei 

295 Katty O'Sheal 

296 A Supper in Dixie 
VOL. XXXVIII. 

297 Ici on Parle Francals 

298 Who Killed Cock Robin 

299 Declaration of Independ- 

300 Heads or Tails [cnce 

301 Obstinate Family 

302 My A unt 

303 That Rascal Pat 
.304 Don Paddy de Bazin 

VOL. XXXIX. [ture 

305 Too Much for Good Na- 

306 Cure for the Fidgets 
[307 Jack's the Lad 

308 Much Ado AboutNothfng 

309 Artful Dodger 

310 Winning Haxard 

311 Dav's Fishing [Ac. 

312 Did you ever send your, 

VOL. XL. 

313 An Irishman's Maneuver 

314 Cousin Fannie 

315 'Tis the Darkest Hourbe- 

316 Masquerade [fore Dawn 

317 Crowding the Season 
31S Good Night's Rest 

319 Man with the Carpet Bag 

320 Terrible Tinker 



i^SEND FOR A NEW DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



(French's Standard Drama Continued from 2d page of Cover.) 



321 

■i->-i 
3« 
3-^4 
■i-Io 
3-J6 

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3.33 
3:« 
3:<.=i 
336 



VOL. XLI. 
The Pirate's Letriicy 
'Ihe Clian oal liurner ■ 
AJelj^iUia 
"Seiiof- \'aliente 
Forest Rose 
I hike's Daughter 
Camilla's Husband 
Pure (ii,\A 

VOL. XLIL 
Ticket of Leave Man 
Fool's Reveiijre 
O'Neil Llie Great 
Handy Andy 
Pirate of the IbIm 
Fanclion 
Little Barefoot 
Wild Irish tiirl 

VOL. XLIIL 
Pearl of .Savoy 
I >ead Heart 

Ten Nights in a Bar-room 
Dnnili Boy of Manchester 



VOL. XHV. 

345 Drunkard's Doom 

346 Jhiiiiney Corner 

,47 Kifteeii Year.s nf a Drunk- 



348 No Thoroughfare rard'a|i372 Led Astray 



349 Peep O' Day H-ife 

350 Everybody's Friend 
3,il G.n. Gr.-iut 

35i Kathleen Mftvnurneen 

VOL. XLV. 
.353 Nick Whiffles 

354 Fruits of the Wine Cup 

355 Drunkard's Warninjc 
366 Temperance DocttT ■ 
361 Aunt Dinah 

358 Widow FreeheMt 

359 Frou Frou 
.■;60 Long Strike 

VOL. XLVr, 
361 Lancers 
36-i Ln ille 
.3ii3 Randall's Thumb 
364 Wicked World 



3 9 
340 
341 BelphegortheAfounteb'k 36S Two Orphans 

34'i ■ ------ 

343 
344 



Cricket on the Hearth 
Printer's- Devil 
Mejj's Diversion 



366<'olIeen Bawn , 

367 'Twixt A.ve and Crown 
36S Lady Clancarthy 



Vol. xlvil 

369 Saratoga 

370 Never Too Late to Mend 

371 Lily of France 



373 Henry V 

374 Unequal Match 

375 M.ay or Dolly's Delusion 

376 Allat.iona 

VOL. XLVUL 

377 Enoch Arden 

378 Under the Gas Light 

379 Daniel RoclMk 

380 Caste 

381 School 
'38'i Home 

;i83 David Garrfek 

384 Ours 

VOL. XLIX. 

385 Social Glass 

386 Daniel Drute 

387 Two Roses 

388 Adrienue 
.89 The Bells 
SSOUncle 
391 Courtship 

39-2 Not .Such a Fool 



VOL. L, 

.393 Fine Feat^ ers 

394 Prompter's Bor 

395 Iron Master 

396 Engaged 

97 Pygmalion & Galatea 
398 Leah 

{99 Scrap of Paper 
;00 Lost in Loudon 
VOL. LL 
101 Ortoroon 

402 Confederate Spy 

403 Mariner's Return 
40^ Ruined by Drink 

405 Dreams 

406 M. P. 
401 War 

408 Birth 
VOL. LI I. 

409 Niglitingale 

410 Progress 

411 Plav 

412 Mid'night Charge 

413 Confidential Clerk 

414 Snowball 

415 Our Regiment 

416 Married for Money 
Hamlet in Three Act* 
Guttle &. Gulpit 



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MISS CLEOPATRA. Farce in 3 Acts by Abtk(;b i 
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male, 2 female characters. 



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Anmteur Drama 

Amateur Operas 

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Art of Scene Painting 

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Bo'inil St^ts of I'lavs 

Bulwer Lytton's Plays 

Bnrl.sque Dramas 

Burnt Cork 

Cabman's Story 

Carnival of Authors 

Charade Plays 

Childrt-n's Plays 

Comic Dramas for Male Characters 

only 
Costume Books 
Crape Hair > 
Cuuiberlaiid Edition 
Darkey Dramas 
Dramas for Boys 
Drawing-room "Monologues 
Elocution, Reciters and Speakers 
Ethiopian Dramas 



Eveuinsr's Entertainment 

Fairy and Home Plays 

French's Costunves 

Freni'h's Editions 

French's Italian Operas 

French's Parlor Comedies 

French's Stamlard and Minor Drama 

French's Standard and Minor Drauia, 

bound 
French's Scenes for Amateurs 
Frobisher's Topuliir Recitals 
Ur.and Army Dnamas 
(juide Books for Amutenrs 
<iuide to Solecting Plays 
Hints on Costumes 
Home Plays for Ladies 
Irisli QIays 
Irviug's {'lays 
.luvenile Plays 
Mal<e-Up Book 
Make- Up Box 
Mock Trial 

Mrs. Jarley's Wax Works 
New Pl.iys 



New Recitation Books 

VIgorer Jokes and Stump Speeches 

Parlor Magic 

Parlor P.intomimes 

Pieces of Pleasantry 

Poems for Recitations 

Pl.iys for Male Characters only 

Round Games 

Scenery 

Scriptural and Historical Drama* 

Sensation Dramas 

Se'io-Comic Dramas 

Shadow Pantomimes 

Shakespeare's Plays for Amateuts 

Shakespeare's Plays 

Stanley's Dwarfs 

Spirit Gum 

Tableaux Vivants 

1 alma Actor's Art 

Temperance Plays 

Vocal Music of .Shakespeare's Pl*y« 

Webster's Acting Edition 

Wigs, etc. 



{Frenches Minor Drama Continued from 4th page of Cover.) 



321 

323 
324 
325 
326 
3?7 
828 



I Love 
[Letter 



VOL. XLI 
Adventures of 

ost Child 
Court ( ards 
Cox and Box 
Forty Winks 
Wonderful Woman 
Cnrions Case 
Tweedlelou's Tail Coat 



VOL. XLIL 
.329 As Like as Two Peas 
330 Presumptive Evidence 
3;il Happy Band 

332 Pinafore 

333 Mock Trial 

3:54 My Uncle's Will 
3.35 Happy • air 
336 My Turn Next 



VOL. XLIIL 

337 Sunset 

:«8 For Half a Million 

339 C.bie Car 

:«(> Early Bird 

341 Aluranl Piay 

342 Show of Hands 

343 Karbara 

344 Who's Who 



VOL. XLIV. 

345 Who's To Win Him 

346 W^hich is Which 

347 Cup of Tea 

34S Sarah's Young Man 

349 Hearts 

350 In Honor Bound [Law 

351 Freezing a Motber-iB» 

352 My LK)rd in Livery 



SAMUEL FRENCH, 26 West 22d St., New York City. 



LIBRARY OF 



CONGRESS 



0_016 117 617 5 ^ 



